ALLEN PARK — Since his ACL surgery on Nov. 21, rookie wide receiver Ryan Broyles has been working hard to get back on the football field.

It happened on Sunday, when he was taken off the Physically Unable to Perform list and joined his Lions’ teammates for practice.

He wasn’t quite ready when he took his turn and lined up for a one-on-one drill (wide receiver vs. defensive back) and he heard it from coach Jim Schwartz loud and clear. Actually so did the fans.

It was kind of Broyles’ welcome albeit a tough-love one from Schwartz.

“That’s a part of football, you love that when a coach gets on you, it means he cares, that’s a good thing,’’ said Broyles, a second-round draft pick out of Oklahoma.

Since it was the team’s third practice and they were wearing shoulder pads. It was just his first and per NFL rules players cannot wear pads for their first two days of practice.

“I want to be out there as much as possible, they’re going to bring me along at an even pace so whatever I can do to get out there I’m going to give it my all whatever chance I have,’’ Broyles said.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. To pre-order her upcoming book, click here: “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.”)

The Lions scouted Oklahoma well last year, no doubt about it. General manager Martin Mayhew said it was just coincidence that they drafted three Sooners in the same class. Here’s a look at where they stand:

1. WR Ryan Broyles is still rehabbing from ACL surgery seven months ago. Wouldn’t be a surprise to see him start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list which would keep him out of the first six games. It’s too early to tell, training camp will be his true test. When healthy he promises to be yet another offensive weapon.

2. DE Ronnell Lewis is one tough hombre. Rode bulls growing up in Dewar, Okla., and his nickname is Hammer because he can nail opposing players. He’s a lock to make the 53-man roster, might not see much time at defensive end this season, but that will come.

3. LB Travis Lewis has a chip on his shoulder because he was drafted in seventh round even though he was a four-year starter at Oklahoma and led the team in tackles all four years. His speed is the question mark here. He needs to make the roster with his special teams play. Talk to the guy for five minutes and you wouldn’t bet against him.

Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. To pre-order her upcoming book, click here: “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.”

Will never forget years ago at a Lions’ practice in the little bubble beside the Silverdome when Barry Sanders ran the ball in for a touchdown.

It was certainly no big deal to anyone in the bubble except for his son who must have been 3 or 4 years old at the time. He was all excited, jumping up and down because his dad had scored. Apparently he didn’t know his dad was a future Hall of Famer.

Years later now it’s that little boy -- Barry Sanders Jr. -- who is making heads turn at Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Junior is just a junior so the recruiting talk should intensify leading up to next year’s national signing day. Schools in the mix reportedly include UCLA, Alabama and Florida State.

Here’s the thing, he plays the same position as his dad and has some of the same moves. Check out this video on youtube.com. He’s No. 26, but you’ll figure that out. It’s almost uncanny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu9Q04L4a7k&feature=related

The Sanders kid recently talked to ESPN the Magazine about his famous father.

“It’s definitely an advantage in life having his name, but when it comes to advantages in recruiting I don’t think so. What coaches see on film is what they see on film,’’ Sanders Jr. told the magazine. “Dad doesn’t give football advice. He just doesn’t put emphasis on trying to make me a football player. He enjoys watching me, he supports me, but he couldn’t care less if I played or not.”

That sounds exactly like the Barry Sanders we knew.

In fact in an interview on youtube.com it’s almost scary how much he looks like his dad and even speaks like him.

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)