Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is reportedly “healthy and doing well” as he recovers from the gnarly injury he took down against USC, but don’t hold your breath for a return date just yet, according to coach Dan Lanning. The latest update came on Wednesday, September 30, and while Lanning’s got optimism for his QB to get back on the field, he’s also making it super clear that it’s way too early to put a timeline on anything concrete.
That USC Hit Was Nasty, But Moore’s On The Mend
Moore got absolutely laid out against USC on Saturday, September 26, when he tried to slide during a scramble. Trojan linebacker Desman Stephens II came in hot, hit him on the head with his forearm, and knocked his helmet completely off. You saw it live: the dude instantly went into that terrifying fencing position, a dead giveaway for a concussion. He was stretched off the field and taken straight to a Los Angeles hospital in an ambulance. It looked serious, no doubt about it. But the very next day, Lanning dropped a statement saying Moore only suffered a concussion with no other injuries. He also said Oregon would be moving “with an abundance of caution,” which, honestly, you love to hear when it comes to a player’s long-term health. Moore himself chimed in on Monday, September 28, sounding optimistic, saying he’d made progress and “I’ll be back soon.” Coach Lanning, meanwhile, is already “done talking about this game,” focused purely on moving the Ducks forward this season.
Dylan Raiola Stepped Up, And This Bye Week Is HUGE
So, when could we actually see Moore back in action? Right now, there’s zero official word on when he might suit up again, mainly because concussion protocols are always fluid. But here’s the kicker: there’s actually a real possibility he could play in the Ducks’ very next game! Oregon has a Week 5 bye, so they’re not playing this Saturday, October 3. Their next matchup is against UCLA on October 10. That bye week gives them nearly two full weeks to evaluate Moore and see if he can get cleared. If he can’t, Oregon has a legit option in Dylan Raiola. Raiola came up clutch after Moore went down against USC, throwing for 289 passing yards and two touchdowns to secure a critical win for the team’s playoff hopes. Lanning summed it up perfectly, saying Raiola’s “proven he can play winning football for us, and has a skill set that’ll be advantageous for us to have.”
This whole situation is wild, right? While it’s awesome that Dante Moore is recovering well, all eyes are on that October 10 game against UCLA. Oregon’s playoff hopes are definitely on the line, and whether it’s Moore making a quick return or Raiola continuing to show out, the Ducks need to be ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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