Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has been ruled out for the Ducks game against UCLA, the team announced in its injury report on Wednesday evening.
Moore suffered the concussion on Sept. 26 when he gave himself up in the second quarter on a slide and took a shot to the helmet from USC linebacker Desman Stephens II, who was suspended for the tackle.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning said last Saturday on "Big Noon Kickoff" that the program is exercising an "abundance of caution" and there's no timetable for his return, emphasizing there is no rush in his recovery.
"Similar to what we said before, we're gonna do what's best for Dante moving forward," Lanning reiterated in his Monday press conference. "It was great to see him back out there with his teammates getting to work today."
If Moore is unable to play against the Bruins, backup quarterback and offseason Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola will be making his first start for the Ducks after coming off the bench to lead the win over USC.
Raiola led four touchdown drives in the second half, including a pair of decisive scores in the fourth quarter to break open the game 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."
Oregon's Big Ten, CFP predicament
This would be a much easier decision on Oregon's coaching staff is the Ducks were unbeaten right now and had the luxury of easing Moore back into the starting lineup while also seeing what Raiola could do in full operation of the first-team offense.
Instead, a loss to UCLA further clouds the conference championship picture and puts Oregon in must-win mode the rest of the way in terms of reaching the College Football Playoff.
Oregon is projected to reach the 12-team bracket in our latest projection at CBS Sports as the league's third and final selection, but the Ducks still have to play Ohio State and Washington down the stretch following Saturday's showdown with UCLA.
There's a home bout with Nebraska next week as well, and the Huskers are 5-0 this season with seventh-ranked Indiana coming into Lincoln this weekend.
Northwestern and Michigan are other conference games that, while the Ducks are favored to win, could give them trouble.
Moore's return timeline
According to the NCAA's concussion protocol safety checklist, all athletes who have suffered a concussion must undergo a pre-participation baseline assessment, which includes a documented history of injuries, a symptom evaluation and cognitive and balance tests to establish a comparison point.
The team physician determines "pre-participation clearance and/or the need for additional consultation or testing." The NCAA mandates that when an athlete shows signs of a concussion, they are not allowed to return to the game.
The NCAA's concussion safety protocol management guidelines state that a player's return to play is a step-by-step process that must be completed without symptoms returning -- almost like weather delays, when a single streak of lightning in the area delays a return to action.
The five stages of an athlete's return to play via the NCAA are as follows:
- Stage 1: Symptom-limited activity: Begin with light aerobic exercise.
- Stage 2: Moderate aerobic exercise: Increase the intensity of the aerobic exercise.
- Stage 3: Non-contact drills: Introduce sport-specific drills in full uniform without physical contact.
- Stage 4: Full-contact practice: Allow full-contact practice or training.
- Stage 5: Return to competition: An athlete can return to game play only after successfully completing all prior stages and receiving medical clearance.
With Monday's return to practice, the next update from Lanning and the Ducks' coaching staff on Moore comes later this week.
Uncomfortable decision looming
Given Moore's status and Raiola's play off the bench, Lanning has a difficult choice on who to play in the coming weeks if his starter is ready to return to action.
Raiola completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns against USC, executing Oregon's offense to near perfection in the second half of the win over the Trojans. This comes after the Ducks had looked out of rhythm several times in the early going this fall, following a near-stumble against Boise State and a loss at Oklahoma State.
Moore has thrown for 926 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception through four games, but four of those scores came during an 84-0 win over Portland State -- a glorified practice for the Ducks following two shaky performances during the first two weeks.
Oregon hasn't yet hit its stride offensively with its senior, returning star at quarterback, but it closely resembled the team that was clicking on all cylinders and reached the CFP last season with Raiola back there in Los Angeles.
