– Tailback Derrick Locke practiced Thursday with tape on his knee and will probably play “some” against Louisiana-Monroe, barring any major setbacks. Head coach Rich Brooks said Locke’s knee was a little sore after running Wednesday but was fine this morning. – Safety Taiedo Smith and running back Moncell Allen both returned to practice Thursday after battling the flu earlier in the week. Brooks said they will be available to play Saturday. – Brooks still has a concern with running back Alfonso Smith because he has still has a splint on his thumb on his ball-carrying hand, but Brooks said he has looked good in practice all week.- Asked how his two quarterbacks, Morgan Newton and Will Fidler, looked in practice this week, Brooks said, “I’m glad you asked me that today rather than yesterday because yesterday I don’t think we could have hit a pass from me to you. Today, they threw the ball much better and looked a lot better.”- In case you don’t remember, Louisiana-Monroe gave UK all it could handle in 2006, the teams’ last meeting, when the Cats won 42-40. Brooks said they could not stop them. He said the quarterback ran all over the field and gave up a ton of rushing yard, but the Cats kept fighting back. Brooks said the Cats aren’t that explosive this year so they have to make sure they keep them in check.