MONTREAL — Johnny Manziel will have to wait to get on the field for the Montreal Alouettes.
Manziel will dress as Vernon Adams’ backup when the Alouettes host the Edmonton Eskimos on Thursday night, four days after 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Manziel was acquired from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“We’ll play that by ear,” said first-year Montreal coach Mike Sherman, the former Green Bay Packers coach and general manager who lured Manziel to Texas A&M when he coached the Aggies. “I don’t want to put him in a situation that is uncomfortable for him, with only two days of preparation.
“But, then again, I want to get him on the field and give him his opportunity. So I’m weighing. He’ll definitely be in uniform on the sideline, and whether he crosses over onto the field, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Making a comeback in the Canadian Football League after being released by the Cleveland Browns in March 2016, Manziel was unable to get on the field in Hamilton behind starter Jeremiah Masoli. In two preseason games, Manziel was 21-of-32 for 168 yards and a touchdown.
The Alouettes traded for Manziel a day after starting quarterback Drew Willy went out with a right hand injury. Jeff Mathews also is out with a foot injury, which left third-stringer Matt Shiltz to play the final three quarters last week in a loss at the Calgary Stampeders.
Montreal (1-4) has scored a CFL-low 69 points and allowed a league-high 148 points.
Adams, the former Eastern Washington and Oregon quarterback, rejoined the Alouettes after being cut by Hamilton.
“I’m just out here to make plays and have fun. Everybody in the world knows he’s coming here to play,” Adams said of Manziel.