Nebraska quarterback Harrison Beck returned to practice Wednesday, but coach Bill Callahan said he’d wait until today before deciding Beck’s status for Saturday’s Red-White Game.

“We’re just going to take a look and see if he’ll throw accurately and with comfort,” Callahan said. “If he does so, we’ll insert him in the regular rotation.”

Beck has missed recent practices with shoulder soreness that was serious enough to warrant an MRI. The results showed no tears or damage, Callahan said, although Beck was throwing with pain, according to his mother, Evelyn Bothwell, who attended Wednesday’s practice.

She said three different doctors, including a radiologist in Denver, read the results of the MRI, and each confirmed there is no shoulder damage, but that Beck is suffering from an impingement. Their recommendation, she said, is simply rest.

But Bothwell said Beck is going to do what he can in order to play Saturday. “He said he wants to treat Saturday like it’s the Super Bowl,” she said.

Coaches will be happy enough if it’s just another practice for Beck, who’s missed a chunk of spring workouts with hamstring and shoulder issues.

“Any time you can get out on the field and maximize your reps, you’re going to get better,” Callahan said. “Certainly, Harrison, if he gets on the field on Saturday, it will be another learning experience where we try to maximize the 15th practice of spring ball. That’s our philosophy.”

* FORMAT UNCHANGED: Like last year, the Red-White Game will feature the No. 1 offense and the No. 1 defense on the same team, facing the second and third teams. Callahan said some players from the lower units will cross over and play on the first teams in the second half. “We’re going to see a lot of mixing and matching,” Callahan said. “It’s going to be a great environment for our players to compete in.”

* BACKING DOWN: Nebraska worked out in full pads in Memorial Stadium and did some situational scrimmaging, but not at full-contact. Linebacker Stewart Bradley, who’s been limited this spring while recovering from knee surgery, saw more time and even intercepted a Zac Taylor pass. (Hey, green jersey to green jersey, a guy can get confused, right?) But don’t expect to see Bradley on Saturday, even though he’s been cleared. “He can go but there’s no sense right now,” Callahan said. “He’s received so many snaps in the seven-on-seven perimeter drills, he’s been in all the individual and unit drills. He just hasn’t had contact. We feel fine with that. As long as we can keep him healthy and have him fine for fall, that’s what counts the most.”

* RUNNING BACK RACE THE SAME: Coaches say it’s been a productive, physical spring for Nebraska’s crew of young running backs. Sophomores Cody Glenn, Marlon Lucky and Leon Jackson have taken most of the snaps. Junior Brandon Jackson, who’s missed the spring with a shoulder injury, and Kenny Wilson, an incoming junior college transfer, will add to the mix come fall. “It’s going to be a good stable of backs,” Callahan said. “All of those backs are still in great competition with one another. We’ve made no decision at this point as to who the featured back is going to be.”

* ETC.: Nebraska’s final practice before the spring game is (was, depending on when you read this) at 5:45 this morning, in shorts and helmets. … Callahan said anywhere from 70 to 85 recruits are expected for Saturday’s game. … Tickets still remain for the game, which begins at 12:30 p.m., and can be purchased by calling 1-800-8BIGRED or online at Huskers.com.