Oregon will be without quarterback Dante Moore and receiver Evan Stewart for the road game against Illinois, the program confirmed. Moore has been sidelined since sustaining a concussion on Sept. 26, and Stewart’s absence adds a second significant void to the Ducks’ offense heading into Big Ten play, according to Sports Illustrated.
The dual ruling leaves Oregon coach Dan Lanning to navigate the trip to Illinois without two of his most experienced offensive playmakers. Stewart had been labeled questionable before sitting out the Ducks’ 17-14 win over Nebraska, and his status has now been formalized as out for this week.
What The Team Said
Oregon officially ruled out both Moore and Stewart for the trip to Illinois, per Sports Illustrated. Moore’s concussion has kept him out of action since it occurred on Sept. 26, and no timeline for his return has been provided. Stewart’s move from questionable to out follows the same pattern that sidelined him against Nebraska the previous week.
Illinois enters the matchup dealing with its own quarterback uncertainty. Fighting Illini starter Katin Houser is out, and Illinois coach Bret Bielema said Monday that not knowing which quarterback Oregon will start complicates his team’s preparation.
Who Replaces Them At Quarterback And Receiver
With Moore sidelined, Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas are competing for the starting quarterback job. Raiola already has a signature performance on his resume this season: he threw two touchdowns off the bench in relief against USC following Moore’s Sept. 26 injury, then led Oregon on a comeback win over Nebraska capped by a touchdown drive and a two-point conversion.
Despite that track record, Lanning has not committed to Raiola as the clear starter over Thomas. The coach hesitated when asked directly whether one quarterback holds an edge over the other, according to Sports Illustrated.
At receiver, Dakorien Moore is expected to carry the heaviest workload in Stewart’s absence. He has produced four touchdowns and 347 receiving yards through the start of the season. Oregon may turn to its true freshman receivers more than it has in previous games with both Stewart and Dante Moore unavailable, though the program has not identified which freshmen would see expanded roles.
Season Context For The Injured Pair
Dante Moore’s absence vs. Illinois marks another step in an injury saga that has already shaped Oregon’s season. He first missed time after the concussion sustained against USC on Sept. 26, and the Ducks have since leaned on Raiola to hold the offense together in stretches. Stewart’s situation has moved quickly from a questionable tag to a second straight missed game, giving Oregon back-to-back contests without one of its top receiving options.
What’s Next
Oregon will face Illinois with its quarterback competition and receiver rotation still unsettled. No further update on Dante Moore’s or Evan Stewart’s availability has been given. Oregon’s next injury report is expected at 5 p.m.
PT Thursday. Readers can track Oregon’s broader playoff outlook as the Big Ten schedule continues.
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