Manziel eager for 1st preseason appearance, will be Masoli's backup Friday

Johnny Manziel is set to make his CFL debut with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Friday's preseason game against the Toronto Argonauts.

It's been more than two years since Manziel played his final NFL game with the Cleveland Browns, but he's ready to get going.

"It's going to be fun just getting back on the field, getting the chance to play, take some snaps, and do what I love doing," Manziel told reporters Thursday, after the team's final walk-through. "I'm excited from a personal standpoint just to get back, take some snaps, and run around."

But head coach June Jones reaffirmed a previous statement that he views Jeremiah Masoli as the Ti-Cats starter for the entirety of the coming season, by saying he'll start Friday's game.

"Masoli is going to play until I feel good about it," Jones said of the preseason game. "And then the rest of the game will be whatever we decide - 15 plays each, or whatever."

- With h/t to USA Today