Dante Moore is back on the practice field, but Oregon has not said whether its starting quarterback can play against UCLA on Saturday. Moore took part in practice Monday, Oct. 5, wearing a helmet and shoulder pads and throwing the football. Coach Dan Lanning called it a little work and did not describe how much Moore participated.
The return is an encouraging step after Moore suffered a concussion in Oregon’s Sept. 26 win over USC. A late hit during a second-quarter slide sent him out of the game and to a Los Angeles hospital. Oregon announced the concussion the following day and said he had escaped more serious injuries. Lanning has not offered a timetable for Moore’s return.
For now, practice participation is not a clearance to play. Lanning said Oregon would continue to do what is best for Moore and pointed to the Big Ten availability report for further detail. He has not confirmed Moore’s status for the Ducks’ matchup with the unbeaten Bruins at Autzen Stadium.
That uncertainty gives the quarterback question an immediate football dimension, too. Dylan Raiola took over after Moore’s injury against USC and finished with 289 passing yards and two touchdowns in Oregon’s 41-27 victory. The performance gives the Ducks an experienced option if Moore cannot go, but it does not resolve the more important issue: whether Moore is ready to return safely.
Oregon enters a ranked matchup with both its top quarterback’s availability and its backup’s strong relief showing in view. Fans can debate the depth chart, but the public facts remain limited: Moore practiced, Lanning has not declared him available, and the team’s next update will matter more than speculation.
