San Diego State quarterback Danny O’Neil jogged out to the SDSU practice field the past two days, just like he’s done the past two months.

There was one notable difference — a thigh-to-calf black brace O’Neil was wearing to protect his left knee. The brace is more streamlined than the bulky thing O’Neil strapped on Saturday night after getting rolled up on by an Oregon State defender.

But fashion doesn’t ensure O’Neil will be able to function.

The true freshman from Indiana played every snap in last week’s 21-0 loss to the Beavers, despite the undisclosed knee injury. But O’Neil’s availability for Saturday night’s game at Cal is definitely in question.

“He’s slowly improving,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said after Wednesday morning’s practice. “We’ll know more by the end of the week.”

Lewis, quarterbacks coach Matt Johnson and O’Neil himself said this week that the Aztecs were proceeding as if he will be the starter against the Golden Bears.

O’Neil made some throws during drills Tuesday and Wednesday, but then watched as redshirt freshman Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson and sophomore transfer AJ Duffy traded reps during the portions of practice open to the media.

Neither Tupou’ata-Johnson nor Duffy has started a college game.

Tupou’ata-Johnson, a 6-foot-4, dual-threat quarterback from Oakland, played the last series in the season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce. He rushed once for seven yards, but did not attempt a pass.

The 6-2 Duffy’s last game action was a year ago at Florida State, when he got in for the final series of a season-opening rout of Southern Miss.

Lewis was asked whether Tupou’ata-Johnson or Duffy would start if O’Neil does not.

“We’ll see as we go,” Lewis said. “It’s always been next man up. We’re kind of working through the competition. We’ll see as they continue to go through the week. They’re getting the bulk of it as we go forward and we’ll see how the week shakes out.”

While the Aztecs will keep the decision on a starter close to the vest, it is expected to be determined based on Thursday’s practice.

“To get the reps that you need and be comfortable with the plan,” Lewis said, “you’ve got to at least be operating it on Thursday, and heading into the weekend at a good clip. At that position with where we are you’d like to know sooner rather than later.”

O’Neil became the first true freshman in the Aztecs’ Division I history to open the season as the starting quarterback.

He was 22-for-33 passing for 214 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-14 win over Texas A&M-Commerce.

O’Neil was 11-for-27 for 107 yards in the shutout loss to Oregon State. He did not throw an interception, but he did have a fumble at the Beavers’ 2-yard line that ended SDSU’s best scoring opportunity.

What does O’Neil have to show to start against the Bears?

“He’s got to be able to run around and be able to protect himself at a really high level,” Lewis said. “The medical team and our eyes (need to) say he’s good. He’s able to move and plant and cut and be quick in the pocket the way that he needs to be, or that any player needs to be.”

O’Neil said Tuesday that his knee had “gotten a lot better” after two days of treatment and he had every expectation of being able to start. He never missed a game in four years at Indianapolis’ Cathedral High School, and said he was determined to finish what he started against Oregon State.

“I wasn’t coming out of the game,” O’Neil said. “There’s been a few times where I’ve gotten a little banged up, but if it’s up to me I’m not coming out.”

But, O’Neil added: “They have my best interests at heart and the best interests of the team. I have full trust in the coaches. Whatever they say goes.”

Remembering 9/11

Only 13 players on SDSU’s 110-man roster had been born when the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks killed 2,996 people.

On the 23rd anniversary of the tragedy, Lewis made a point to discuss its significance with the team.

“We took some time (together) at the end of practice and in position meetings (earlier) to educate about the importance of this day,” Lewis said. “The biggest message I shared with them is, obviously, the world was fundamentally changed on that day.

“There were a lot of people on that day who lost their lives. Then the subsequent conflicts that we’ve been in since then, people have made the ultimate sacrifice. The origin story or epicenter of that was the remembrance day today.”

Lewis’ message to the players: “Live a life that’s worthy of the sacrifice each and every single day. Do that with passion and purpose as we move forward.”

The coach looked into players’ eyes as he spoke. Lewis believes what he said resonated.

“Quite a bit,” he said. “I really do think they have an awareness, they have an appreciation, and I’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about it.”