AZTEC UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / SCOTT MILLER : Faulk Back After Shaking Flu; Lowery Gets Smaller Back Pad

Running back Marshall Faulk returned to practice Wednesday after missing two days because of the flu. Faulk said he thinks he will be strong by Saturday’s game against Texas El Paso, though he was still bothered Wednesday.

“I’m so-so,” Faulk said. “I was weak today. It was my first day back, and having four or five days off, including the weekend . . . .”

Another player out with the flu, receiver Keith Williams, also returned Wednesday. Defensive lineman George Glaze sat out Wednesday’s practice with the flu but Coach Al Luginbill said he expects him to play Saturday.

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Quarterback David Lowery will receive a smaller protective device for his lower back today to replace the bulky lower-back padding that he has been wearing for the past two games.

“It’s definitely a plus,” Lowery said.

The junior quarterback was slowed by a strained lower back during the UCLA and New Mexico games. He said the back is “feeling a lot better.”

In fact, it is improved enough that Lowery hopes to eventually discard the extra padding for his back.

“I don’t know,” he said. “It depends how much I can talk Luginbill out of wearing it.”

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Defensive lineman Turaj Smith aggravated his ankle sprain in practice Wednesday but Luginbill said he will play Saturday.