T.J. Lang felt right at home wearing a Detroit Lions jersey and taking part in his first training camp practice since signing a free-agent deal to be Detroit's new right guard this offseason. Lang is a Michigan native who grew up loving the Lions.

In terms of feeling at home at right guard, and comfortable with new linemates center Travis Swanson (to his left) and tackle Rick Wagner (to his right), Lang thinks that will only take a couple weeks.

"It takes some time," he said. "Maybe the first or second preseason game we should be rolling by. I've been through a lot of changes in my career playing next to new guys and you just have to find ways to speed up the process."

He said that could mean extra time in the meeting room and taking a more diligent approach any time all three players get a chance to step on the field together, even in walkthroughs.

Lang sat out OTAs and minicamp recovering from offseason hip surgery. He admitted after Sunday's practice that he was a little bit rusty, but said the hip felt great, and he's right on track with his recovery.

"Today was a pretty good start," he said. "Communication with those guys seems like it's been a pretty seamless transition, but a lot of work to do there still. Like I said, we're going to do everything we can to speed that process up."

ROUGH START

It wasn't the start Eric Ebron was hoping for to kick off his 2017 season.

Ebron left Sunday's first practice of training camp with what Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said appeared to be a hamstring injury.

The injury seemed to occur very early in practice. Ebron did not take part in any team drills, leaving Darren Fells and Cole Wick to take most of the reps with the first-team.

Injuries have been an issue for Ebron throughout his career. He has yet to play a full 16-game slate in a season. In three seasons, he's missed eight games.

He missed most of the preseason last year because of an ankle injury suffered in the team's mock game at Ford Field. He then missed three games in October with knee and ankle injuries.

"He got a little bit of a tweak but we'll see, see how bad it is," Caldwell said.

Ebron set career-highs with 61 catches for 711 yards last season and is expected to play a big role on Detroit's offense this season. If he misses any significant time, it would be a blow for this offense.

PRACTICE REPORT

Starting camp on PUP (physically unable to perform): DE Ziggy Ansah, DE Armonty Bryant, S Don Carey, T Taylor Decker, S Rolan Milligan, T Corey Robinson, DE Jeremiah Valoaga

Starting camp on NFI (active/non-football injury): P Sam Martin

Tackle Greg Robinson didn't participate in any team drills Sunday. Cyrus Kouandjio took first-team reps at left tackle in team drills. Running back Theo Riddick, who sat out the spring after undergoing wrist surgery, took part in team drills, but wore a red no-contact jersey.

Three other players were absent from practice for undisclosed reasons: Safety Charles Washington, defensive tackle Bruce Gaston and offensive tackle Tony Hills.