Not that there’s much dead time in the NFL, but Monday marks the start of an intense stretch.

Here are five things you should know:

1. Offseason workouts started today (Monday) for the Lions and the 24 other NFL teams that have returning head coaches. James Ihedigbo was the only missing player for the Lions, according to the team web site. These workouts are voluntary, but attendance is expected. The NFL monitors teams to make sure they are not breaking the rules.
   
   
2. The NFL schedule will be released at 8 p.m. on Tuesday on the NFL Network. We know home and road opponents just waiting for dates. The Lions home opponents in 2015 will be: The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers. The road opponents: The Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8 of the regular season at Wembley Stadium in London on Nov. 1. Other road opponents: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams. The preseason schedule has been released.
   
   
3. The Lions will continue to host pre-draft visits this week. The three-day NFL draft starts Thursday, April 30.
   
   
4. Ndamukong Suh, who didn’t attend the first few weeks of the offseason workouts with the Lions a year ago even with a new coach at the helm, is in attendance at the Dolphins’ first workout on Monday according to the Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero. Suh said last year that he was more comfortable working out with his own people.
   
   
5. Perhaps you’ve heard Tim Tebow is back in the NFL at least for now. The Eagles have signed him, but there’s no guarantee he will make the 53-man roster. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner has been out of the NFL for two years.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Pre-order her new book “Game of My Life Detroit Lions” which will be be published in October on Amazon.com. Also order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here.)