Ducks Qb Moore Out For Year

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will not play again this season, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Monday. The decision comes as the Ducks prepare for their next matchup, cementing a season-ending injury that has defined the team's current roster dynamics.

Moore sustained the injury on Sept. 26 against USC. He was hit late in the head by linebacker Desman Stephens II. Since that game, Moore has not appeared in a contest. The coaching staff spent the past week evaluating his recovery before making the call.

Lanning explained that the choice to sit Moore out was not left to the player or the coach. He noted that while the team can control practice settings, game conditions are less predictable. "We can control the setting in practice where he's able to do things for us, but that's not always the case in the game," Lanning said. He added that Moore would likely play if it were his choice, but the medical reality dictates the current plan.

The coach assured that Moore is expected to make a full recovery. "For him to be out there on the field for us right now, that's not going to happen," Lanning said. Despite missing games, Moore remains active in the program. He assists the defense in practice, providing what Lanning described as one of the best scout team looks every single week.

Before the injury, Moore had completed 69.7% of his passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception. In his absence, the offense has struggled. The team has alternated between backups Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas. Lanning cited a lack of consistency at the start of games as a key issue for the backup group.

The Ducks are currently 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play. They face No. 20 Northwestern on Saturday. Moore returns to the field with a new decision ahead of him. Under the NCAA's five-year eligibility policy, he can return to Oregon in 2027.

Lanning stated he has not discussed future plans with Moore. The quarterback is projected as a first-round NFL Draft pick again. "He'll have a decision at the end of the season about what that looks like," Lanning said. The slow start and season-ending injury have impacted his draft stock, creating a choice between risking another year in college or entering the draft now.