Oregon QB Dante Moore Has Concussion, No Further Damage; USC Suspends Stephens

Coach Dan Lanning says the Oregon quarterback's MRI and CT scans were clean, while USC suspended Desman Stephens II one game for the hit that caused the concussion.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has been diagnosed with a concussion after a frightening collision in the Ducks' Week 4 matchup at Southern California, and head coach Dan Lanning delivered the update on Sunday, Sept. 27: the quarterback escaped with no further harm. The news came just under a full day after Moore was struck in the head and transported to a hospital in the Los Angeles area.

In a statement, Lanning said both an MRI and a CT scan returned clear results and no other injuries were detected. Because each concussion presents differently, the coach added, the program plans to move forward with an extreme level of care and weigh every choice against Moore's long-term well-being. He also voiced appreciation for Oregon's medical personnel as well as the staffs at USC and LA General County Hospital for their swift and thorough response.

The bulletin followed an earlier report from CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz indicating that Oregon did not view the injury as one that would end Moore's season — the first public signal that the outlook was promising.

The incident unfolded early in the second quarter of Oregon's 41-27 win over the Trojans. Moore left the pocket and had begun to slide when USC linebacker Desman Stephens II struck him in the head with a forearm, drawing a targeting penalty. Moore's body immediately locked into the fencing position and he was twitching before being taken away for treatment.

Lanning called the play "disgusting," and several Oregon players were similarly critical of it. USC announced later on Sunday that Stephens would be suspended for one game, describing his actions — the hit itself as well as his celebration afterward — as inappropriate and inexcusable. Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley said the behavior fell short of the program's standards and of the player's own character, adding that Stephens recognized his mistake and accepted the consequences while the entire USC community wished Moore a complete recovery.

When Moore might take the field again remains an open question. He cannot return until he satisfies the concussion protocol, and while Lanning's update offered encouragement, no timetable accompanied it. The schedule at least works in the quarterback's favor: Oregon does not play on Oct. 3 because of a bye week and next meets UCLA on Oct. 10, a gap of nearly two weeks that leaves open the possibility Moore is available for that matchup in Los Angeles' crosstown rivalry finale — though only protocol clearance will decide it.

If he is unable to go, the Ducks have evidence the offense can still function. Dylan Raiola entered the game in relief of Moore and rose to the moment, piling up 289 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns to power a result that carries significant weight for Oregon's playoff prospects.