Oregon’s quarterback situation is hanging on Dante Moore’s recovery, and the clock is now tied to the NCAA’s concussion protocol. Whether Moore is available for the Oct. 10 matchup with unbeaten, No. 23 UCLA will depend on how quickly he clears the required steps after suffering a concussion in last month’s win over USC.
Moore took the hit in the second quarter after sliding and giving himself up, then getting struck in the helmet by Trojans linebacker Desman Stephens II. Stephens was suspended for the tackle and for his reaction afterward.
Dan Lanning said Saturday on Big Noon Kickoff that Oregon is taking an “abundance of caution” with Moore and that there is no timetable for his return. The coach stressed that there is no rush.
During the Ducks’ open week, Lanning said the medical staff was handling the situation carefully and following the process step by step.
“Dante's in recovery mode. (He) was able to get scans and identify it was a really serious( concussion)," Lanning said Monday.
"It's one of those situations where we have to protect the player from himself. I'm sure he's anxious to get back on the field, but want to make sure we go through that process and want to make sure he's healthy."
The NCAA’s concussion checklist requires a pre-participation baseline assessment for any athlete who has suffered a concussion. That includes a documented injury history, a symptom evaluation, and cognitive and balance testing to create a comparison point. From there, the team physician decides on “pre-participation clearance and/or the need for additional consultation or testing.”
If a player is showing signs of a concussion, the NCAA says he cannot return to the game. The return process then has to be completed in order, without symptoms coming back. The five stages are light aerobic exercise, then moderate aerobic exercise, then non-contact drills in full uniform, then full-contact practice, and finally a return to competition after medical clearance.
Oregon’s first player availability report is due Wednesday evening, with daily updates required through two hours before kickoff. Those reports will list players as probable, questionable, doubtful or out.
The Ducks opened as a 13.5-point favorite over UCLA.
If Moore can’t go, Oregon would turn to backup Dylan Raiola, the offseason Nebraska transfer, for his first start with the Ducks. Raiola came off the bench last week and delivered in a big way, leading four touchdown drives in the second half and helping break the game open with a pair of fourth-quarter scores on the road.
“I’m just so proud of him,” Lanning said of Raiola. “You talk about owning a role and not waiting for your opportunity but preparing for your opportunity, and Dylan's a guy that prepared for his opportunity.”
Raiola was sharp against USC, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. His second-half performance helped Oregon look far more like the team that clicked last season on its way to the CFP, especially after some uneven stretches early this fall.
That quarterback decision could get tricky even if Moore is ready. Oregon still has a demanding stretch ahead, with Ohio State and Washington on the schedule after UCLA, plus a home game against Nebraska on Oct.
- Nebraska is 5-0 this season with sixth-ranked Indiana looming, and Raiola played for the Huskers last year.
Moore has thrown for 926 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception through four games, though four of those touchdowns came in an 84-0 win over Portland State. Oregon’s offense has not fully found its rhythm with Moore yet, but the Ducks looked much more like themselves with Raiola directing the attack in Los Angeles.
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