Earlier this month, former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel decided to take up the standing offer to join the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL on a two-year deal to continue his quest back to the league.

He has fully embraced the upcoming challenges of playing in the CFL for the first time in his football career. According to Lorenzo Reyes of USA TODAY Sports, Tiger-Cats head coach June Jones stated that Manziel will begin his tenure as the backup to Jeremiah Masoli.

When asked Thursday who would get the first-team role if both Manziel and incumbent starter Jeremiah Masoli are healthy at the beginning of the regular season, coach June Jones said Masoli “absolutely” would start and added there is no quarterback competition in training camp.

Masoli has spent the last five seasons with Hamilton, working his way up to being the full-time starter this past season where he recorded 3,177 passing yards on a 63.7 percent completion rate with 15 touchdown passes to five interceptions, along with 446 rushing yards for four touchdowns in 18 games played.

Although Manziel may ultimately be the more talented player under center, he has to work his way toward earning the starting job at some point this season. He is also still digesting the playbook while adjusting to the extra defender on the field and the length of the field from sideline to sideline. This alone could lead to a bit a rough start out of the gate as he adjusts to the CFL playing style.

There is no timetable for when Manziel will take the field, but it’s reasonable to believe he will get his chances to showcase what he can do this upcoming season. Hamilton is set to play at home against the Toronto Argonauts on Friday and will begin their regular season on June 16 against the Calgary Stampeders.