After missing the past three games with a concussion, Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore is not expected to return this season. Dan Lanning explained the situation to reporters during a press conference on Monday. 

Moore, who was widely projected to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL draft, chose to return to Oregon for his senior year. He was projected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this year and earned preseason Heisman Trophy consideration. The bold move is now more of a huge risk.

"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."

Moore took a vicious hit during Oregon's game against USC on Sept. 26. He attempted to slide after scrambling up the field before he was hit late by linebacker Desman Stephens II. After being down on the field, he was taken to the hospital. Moore sustained a concussion and his scans were clean.

So where does this leave Moore in the 2027 NFL Draft?

According to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., the Ducks QB is No. 25 on the Big Board. If he came out last year and was the No. 1 pick over Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, Moore would have received a 4-year contract worth about $54.4 million. If he's picked when Kiper currently has him in 2027, he'll get $18.7 million. This is a $35.7 million difference.  

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

"We said before that this is a serious deal that he'll 100% be able to fully recover from. That hasn't changed," Lanning said. "But for him to be out there on the field for us, that's not going to happen. We'd love to have Dante out there, he's still going to be a big part of this team."

Oregon has struggled without Moore. Backup QB Dylan Raiola and third-stringer Brock Thomas have both taken turns as the team's starter. Neither ons has been impressive. The Ducks were ranked No. 2 in the AP preseason poll and had national championship aspirations. Now they'll try to figure out how to recover in the second half of the season.

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