Oregon's Dante Moore Not Expected to Return This Season After Concussion, Coach Says

Oregon coach Dan Lanning announced Monday night that quarterback Dante Moore is not expected to return this season because of a concussion. Moore has not played since Sept. 26, when Southern California linebacker Desman Stephens II hit him late in the head. He resumed practicing earlier this month but stayed in concussion protocol, and Lanning said at his weekly news conference in Eugene that he is not anticipating Moore's return. Lanning said Moore will make a full recovery, but that playing now is not up to Moore or the coach. In four games, Moore completed 69.7% of his passes for 926 yards and nine touchdowns with no interceptions. Oregon, ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 before the season, is 4-3 and unranked. Moore, 21, returned to school when he could have been a top-10 pick and has one more year of eligibility. Lanning declined to speculate on next season but said Moore will stay involved, including on the scout team.

The New York Times leads with the future, asking how teams will evaluate Moore as a 2027 draft prospect and noting his remaining eligibility. The Washington Post gives the straightforward announcement, centering Lanning's statement and the late hit at USC. The New York Post also uses Lanning's quotes but frames the injury around lost draft status, stressing the top-10 pick Moore passed up, his Heisman candidacy and Oregon's fall to 4-3 and unranked. Both sides report the same facts. CBS Sports largely matches, adding last season's numbers and the struggling offense.