ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions begin their first burst of Organized Team Activities on Tuesday in Allen Park.

That means expect to hear a lot about Ndamukong Suh over the next couple days.

The star defensive tackle will make his debut in the team's offseason program, after declining to join his teammates for last month's voluntary minicamp. But there are plenty of other storylines, too.

So here's a quick look at five things to watch during this burst of OTAs, which will be held over the next three days. The entire Wednesday session is open to the media and could provide an early feel for where things are under Jim Caldwell.

A quick programming note: Detroit's second round of OTAs will be next week, from May 27-29, and the final batch is June 2-5. Mandatory minicamp is June 10-12, and training camp begins in late July.

Without further ado:

1. Ndamukong Suh says hello

I know many fans -- many of you -- are fatigued by this storyline. But Suh is a megastar and a captain who drew heat for skipping voluntary workouts last month.

So his return will be equally notable.

Suh prefers to work out with private trainers in Oregon, a regimen that has helped him secure three Pro Bowl nods in four seasons. There is no disputing that he is one of the NFL's best and most well-conditioned players, and it would be a shock if his shape for OTAs was anything but tip-top.

But he also frustrated some in the organization by refusing to join teammates for minicamp last month, and conditioning before that. He was the only healthy player who skipped those sessions, and he's a captain.

It certainly doesn't look good that he turned up in Las Vegas shortly before minicamp, and at a charity softball game in Arizona shortly after it, and later the Kentucky Derby, but didn't join his teammates and a coach who wanted him here for three days.

Publicly, players and coaches have said what they have to: Minicamp is voluntary, and Suh will be great whenever he shows up.But privately, some have questioned his decisions this offseason.

Now Suh is back, and it'll be worth monitoring how this shakes out -- particularly if Suh chooses to finally break since silence with the media.

2. Eric Ebron debuts in the offense

Ebron was giddy during rookie minicamp when envisioning how he'll be used in the Lions' offense. And now the first-round pick gets his first chance to rep with the entire unit.

He has run some routes with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, but this will be an opportunity to see how he fits into Joe Lombardi's scheme. Expect to see a lot of Ebron in the slot, with Brandon Pettigrew maintaining his place as the regular in-line tight end.

3. Kyle Van Noy debuts his versatility

The Lions had Van Noy working both on the line and at linebacker during rookie minicamp. It'll be interesting to see how he's used once the full cast of characters are on the field.

Van Noy is expected to immediately challenge -- and probably beat out -- Ashlee Palmer for the starting job at strong-side linebacker. And he will be fundamental to the team's new emphasis on the pass rush.

Gone are the days when Detroit was content to rush with just its four-man front. Van Noy will be sic'd on quarterbacks, and he'll get his first full dose of that treatment this week.

4. Who's playing cornerback?

Chris Houston thought rest would heal his bothersome toe. But the calendar flipped to May, and the pain had not yet subsided.

He finally underwent surgery earlier this month, which he hopes will correct the issue but derails his availability for OTAs. It'll be interesting to see who reps in his place, providing a snapshot into what the Lions could do should Houston be limited for the start of the season.

The likeliest starting combo is Rashean Mathis and Darius Slay, with Chris Greenwood and Jonte Green bidding for the top reserve spot.

That latter battle could be a fierce one. The loser may have a tough time sticking to the roster, after Detroit drafted corner Nevin Lawson out of Utah State.

Lots to watch, personnel-wise, and it'll also be worth noting just how differently they play under Teryl Austin -- a longtime DBs coach who is known for his aggressiveness.

5. How is Nick Fairley's conditioning?

There are few greater certainties in all of sports than the performance of a player in a contract year. Funny how that works, eh?

And we saw it last month.

Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew struggled for years to get Nick Fairley more active in the team's offseason program. Then just a few weeks after declining Fairley's option for 2015, boom! There Fairley was at voluntary minicamp.

There's no guarantee that Fairley will be back this week for OTAs, though Jim Caldwell spoke like a man who expects to have a full complement of his best players in town this week.

If Fairley is here, it will be interesting to note what kind of shape he's in. He's listed by the team's website as weighing 291 pounds, but appeared to be push 320 or more by the end of last season.

Many have blamed the weight -- which has a way of amassing around his belly -- for Fairley's inconsistencies. So it'll be interesting to note any changes to his body, if any, as he enters the final year of his rookie deal with Detroit.