Dante Moore’s return to the practice field gave Oregon exactly the kind of update it was hoping for, but it still didn’t answer the biggest question hanging over Saturday’s matchup with UCLA: will the Ducks’ starting quarterback actually play?
Moore was back out there earlier this week in a helmet and shoulder pads, less than two weeks after taking a concussion on a hard hit during Oregon’s win over USC. Ducks coach Dan Lanning said Moore was also throwing the football during the session, which is a strong sign his recovery is moving in the right direction.
Still, Oregon isn’t treating this like a green light. Lanning offered no specifics on how much Moore did Monday or where he stands in the concussion protocol, and the Ducks are keeping the door open to a cautious wait-and-see approach. The next real checkpoint should come Wednesday evening, when the Big Ten’s availability report is released.
"We're going to continue to make sure we do what's best for Dante as we move forward," Lanning told reporters.
The timing helps, at least a little. Oregon had a bye last weekend, so Moore has had nearly two weeks between the USC game and Saturday’s ranked showdown with UCLA.
But the Ducks have made it clear that the calendar alone won’t bring him back. He has to clear the required concussion protocol and get medical clearance first.
That caution makes even more sense considering what Oregon saw from Dylan Raiola against USC. Thrust into the game, Raiola handled the moment with poise, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. He gave the Ducks a legitimate option if Moore isn’t ready, and not every team can say that about its backup quarterback.
Lanning said Raiola needs to keep preparing as if he’ll be the starter.
UCLA is preparing that way too. Bruins coach Bob Chesney said his team is getting ready for both quarterbacks and noted there isn’t a major drop-off between them.
So Oregon sits in a pretty good spot, even if the status of its starter is still unsettled. The Ducks would obviously prefer to have Moore back under center. But with Raiola showing he can handle a big stage, there’s no reason to force the issue.
For now, the encouraging part is simple: Moore is back on the field, and that alone counts as a major step. The rest depends on his recovery, not the kickoff clock.
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