Posted on 05/31/2018 10:02:50 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
HAMILTON — Johnny Manziel is expected to make his CFL debut on Friday night in the Ticats’ pre-season opener, Head Coach June Jones revealed Monday.
Jones told reporters after a hot, humid session Monday that Manziel will be second in line for reps on Friday following starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.
The Ticats open their pre-season schedule at Tim Hortons Field vs. the Toronto Argonauts.
Jones noted Manziel has made strides since signing with the team on May 19, the day before the start of training camp.
“He’s starting to ask the right questions and he’s seeing the right things,” Jones said Monday. “He’s getting a lot of reps both out here and in the virtual reality part of it. He’s staying plugged in, he’s going to be OK.”
Monday’s news comes a day after Steve Milton of 3 Down Nation reported that Vernon Adams Jr., who’s battling to be the backup for Masoli, was sidelined from practice. Jones said to Milton at the time about Manziel that “obviously he’s going to get more reps.”
While Adams’ injury doesn’t appear to be serious — Jones says he may be ready to go on Tuesday — he did not participate in Monday’s session.
It was already assumed that Manziel would get to play Friday when the Ticats open their pre-season schedule against the Toronto Argonauts in Hamilton. But depending on Adams’ status, Manziel may see even more time on the field.
Masoli’s time on the field in Friday’s game is expected to be brief, while Jones says he hopes to make things as easy as possible for Manziel in his first chance to play. “I don’t want to put him in the game and have him not know exactly where everybody’s going to be, and that comes from repetition,” said Jones. “He’s not all the way caught up where Jeremiah is.
“I want him to do things he knows,” he added. “I’m going to get a list from him of the things he’s comfortable with and those will be the things he does.”
Manziel, 25, signed with the Ticats on May 19 after nearly a year of speculation. The former Heisman Trophy winner with Texas A&M was considered one of the biggest stars college football has ever seen, eventually becoming a first round pick by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
So far the Tyler, Texas native has dominated much of the discussion throughout the first week of CFL training camps.
Jones has not made it clear how playing time will be distributed on Friday night.
Also in the fold for the Ticats are Dane Evans and Bryant Moniz.
Take!
Doesn’t matter, I’d probably be dead anyway.
5.56mm
Sooner rather than later!!!
I like C. The other rules, not so much.
I am really concerned about religious freedom in Canada.
I’ve heard about this thing they do called “Kicking the Convert”. Sick and shocking!
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