Oregon QB Dante Moore not expected to return this season - ESPN

After missing the past three games with a concussion, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is not expected to return this season, coach Dan Lanning announced Monday.

Moore, who was widely projected to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL draft before he chose to return to Oregon for his senior year, entered the season as a preseason Heisman Trophy contender. The Ducks were ranked No. 2 in the AP preseason poll and had national championship aspirations.

«If it was up to Dante in any shape, way, he would be out there playing for the guys,» Lanning said, adding that Moore has not yet been medically cleared. «This isn't a selfish decision on Dante's part, saying, 'I don't want to come back, the season doesn't look the way I want it to look.' That's not at all what this is.»

During Oregon's game against USC on Sept. 26, Moore attempted to slide after scrambling up the field before he was hit late by linebacker Desman Stephens II in the second quarter. After being down on the field for an extended period of time, Moore was taken by an ambulance to Los Angeles General Medical Center for evaluation. The team later announced that Moore had sustained a concussion, but his MRI and CT scans came back clean.

In four games before his injury, Moore had a 69.7% completion rate, 926 passing yards, nine touchdown passes and zero interceptions.

Though Moore returned to practice and even threw the ball in recent weeks, according to Lanning, a timeline for his potential return was never shared. Lanning remained adamant that the team would take its time with his recovery and not rush him back to play.

Lanning said Monday that they received some clarity on the matter this week and that the decision is «out of their territory» because — while they can