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Lions rookie receiver TJ Jones is expected to return to practice next week. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- Rookie receiver TJ Jones will return to Detroit Lions practice next week after sitting out the past five-plus months with nerve pain in his arm.

He last practiced during OTAs in early June, and has spent the first 10 weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform list. League rules stipulate he must return to practice next week, or be shut down for the season.

Once Jones returns to practice, Detroit will have three weeks to decide whether to add him to the 53-man roster, or sit him for the season.

"I've never taken this long off since I started playing football, and we're playing so well. It's been one of the most frustrating years of my life," Jones said. "It'll be exciting to get back on the field, and do what I came here to do."

Jones was selected by Detroit in the sixth round of May's draft and participated in both rookie minicamp and OTAs. He sat out mandatory minicamp in June while healing from surgery to repair a lingering shoulder issue from college.

But when Jones woke up from surgery, he had nerve pain in the arm. And it has taken him nearly six months to shake it.

"The nerve was after the surgery," he said. "I didn't have the nerve problem before the surgery."

Did the surgery cause the nerve problem?

"I'm not going to say all that," he said. "The nerve problem was new to me, and that's what's been holding me back. I'll just leave it at that."

Jones is a 6-foot, 195-pound receiver who was highly productive at Notre Dame. He finished second in school history with 181 receptions -- edging current Lions teammate Golden Tate.

But he hasn't had a chance to contribute as a rookie, and considering Detroit's success this season -- it is 7-2 heading into Sunday's game against Arizona -- that has been difficult.

"That Monday night opener, that's when I got mad -- for like three or four weeks," Jones said. "It wasn't like there was anything I could do. It wasn't like a pulled hamstring, where you rehab more, it comes back. It's a nerve, so it's sit and wait. And I'm impatient.

"Now I'll be getting back on the field, running routes, seeing how it feels. Then go from there."

Whenever Jones is healthy, he'll likely compete with Ryan Broyles for the fifth and final spot at receiver.

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