Oregon QB Moore not expected to return this season, Lanning says

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  Paolo UggettiOct 26, 2026, 09:53 PM ET

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.

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.

Without Moore under center, the Oregon offense has struggled, scoring fewer than 20 points in all three games he has missed -- two of them losses. Backup Dylan Raiola and third-stringer Brock Thomas have both taken turns as the team's starter but have not been able to find a rhythm.

On Sunday, Lanning fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer following the team's 21-10 loss to Illinois, which effectively ended Oregon's chances of making the College Football Playoff for a third straight year.

Moore began his college career at UCLA, where he started as a freshman and threw for 1,610 yards and nine touchdowns with 11 interceptions in the first six games of the 2023 season. After six games, Moore was replaced by backup Ethan Garbers.

In the offseason, Moore transferred to Oregon, where the Ducks had added Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel heading into the 2024 season and made him the starter. Moore sat behind Gabriel the entire season and then became the Ducks' starter the following year.

In 2025, Moore led Oregon to a 13-2 record and finished with 3,565 passing yards, a 71% completion rate and 30 touchdowns.

His play earned high praise from opposing coaches and NFL scouts. Had he declared for the 2026 draft, Moore was projected by ESPN's draft analysts to be one of the top three picks.

Moore is now ranked as the 25th prospect in the upcoming NFL draft, according to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.