ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- It all felt a little weird for TJ Jones on Wednesday afternoon. Tugging his jersey on for practice for the first time during the regular season with the Detroit Lions.

Running routes. Catching passes from quarterbacks. Just being back out on the field that he longed to be on for months while he was unable to practice because of nerve issues in his arm and being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

But Wednesday was a big day. He was allowed to practice for the first time. So the rookie from Notre Dame went out there and became acclimated with everything again.

"It felt good knocking off the rust," Jones said. "It felt a little weird just to get back out there and run around again, but for the most part it felt good. I enjoyed it."

Jones said the weirdness came from wearing his uniform and trying to not think about his hand, but to react to everything he has been doing his entire life on the football field. Trying not to worry about the grip that had been one of the biggest issues in his potential return.

His athletic instincts are also slowly returning after he was unable to practice through training camp and the first 11 weeks of the regular season.

"Making certain plays or doing certain things that would normally seem routine, I was a little rusty on," Jones said.

He said this week will be rough on him as he once again becomes comfortable with everything, but is hoping to be back to his old form by next week. The Lions have a little under three weeks to decide whether to shut him down for the season on injured reserve, activate him, or release him.

Jones said those conversations have not happened. If he does end up activated, he is likely competing with Ryan Broyles for a roster spot since Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Jeremy Ross and Corey Fuller are all active on game days and part of the regular rotation.

That, for now, seems like it could be a ways off.

"First day, there’s not a whole lot you can tell, to be honest with you," coach Jim Caldwell said. "To give an assessment of his progress, where he is after one day, it’s difficult.

"He gained his weight back that he lost going through the setback that he had, and he looks good physically. He has fresh legs so we’ll see where it goes."