ALLEN PARK — Jeff Backus and Titus Young made their return to Lions practice on Sunday afternoon.

So far, so good.

It wasn’t such good news for running back Jahvid Best who left Friday’s game early. Coach Jim Schwartz confirmed it was a concussion but said they don’t believe it’s too serious but he’ll need medical clearance to get back to practice.

For Backus, the veteran left tackle, it was his first practice of training camp after reporting with a torn pectoral muscle. Backus, who has started 160 straight regular season games, said he’s not used to sitting out practice more than two days so it felt good to get back. He knows the offense and doesn’t need to learn technique, but Sunday was a good day to start shaking off the rust.

It’s a little different for Young because he’s a rookie and had no offseason team workouts. He’s been out at practice every day, and with the exception of two days more than a week ago when he did a few drills, he’s mostly just been watching.

He did individual drills and lined up with the starters in seven-on-sevens before he left the field. That was the plan. Coach Jim Schwartz said if all goes well he could go through a full practice on Monday.

It was extra special for Young whose parents had flown in from Los Angeles to help him celebrate his birthday which was Sunday.

It’s too early to know if these three will play on Saturday when the Lions play the New England Patriots at Ford Field. But it’s definitely a step in the right direction for Backus and Young.

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche. Get Lions news delivered directly to your phone by texting the keyword "Lions" to 22700.)

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