Dante Moore was back at Oregon practice on Monday, strapping on his shoulder pads and helmet, a huge step for the No. 13 Ducks ahead of their monster clash with No. 21 UCLA this Saturday. This is massive news after the star quarterback was stretchered off the field just weeks ago, and it’s got everyone buzzing about what’s next for Oregon’s offense.
The Return No One Saw Coming So Fast
Coach Dan Lanning dropped a positive update on Moore’s status, confirming he was out there getting some work in. “Dante was out there at practice for us today,” Lanning said, adding, “It was great to see him back out there with his teammates getting to work today.” Dude, after seeing Moore take that vicious high hit from USC linebacker Desman Stephens II back on September 26th and immediately go into concussion protocol, just getting him on the practice field is a win. Stephens II was suspended for that play, and rightly so. The team’s been super cautious, as Lanning told the “Big Noon Kickoff” crew, saying there’s no specific timetable because they didn’t want to rush anything. But hey, pads and a helmet on a Monday? That’s serious progress.
What This Means for the UCLA Showdown and Beyond
Now, whether Moore actually plays against No. 21 UCLA this Saturday in Eugene is still up in the air. The Big Ten availability report comes out Wednesday night, and that’ll give us a clearer picture. Lanning was clear they’re gonna do “what’s best for Dante moving forward,” meaning he’s gotta clear all those NCAA return-to-play stages, from symptom-limited activity all the way to full-contact practice and finally medical clearance for competition. If he’s not good to go, backup Dylan Raiola is ready to step in for his first start at Oregon. And let’s not forget, Raiola was absolutely terrific in relief against USC, completing 76% of his passes for 289 yards and a pair of touchdowns. So, the Ducks have options, but having your star QB back, even if it’s just for practice, changes the vibe big time for a top-25 matchup like this.
This Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. ET game on CBS and Paramount+ Premium is going to be electric. Keep an eye on that availability report, because whether it’s Moore or Raiola under center, the Ducks are gonna need to be dialed in against a tough UCLA squad. The stakes are huge in Eugene this weekend!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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