Oklahoma wide receiver Geno Lewis (5) catches a pass as Auburn defensive back Daniel Thomas (24) tries to tackle him during the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game, Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) -

At the end of the day, Geno Lewis’ dream is to play in the NFL.

While he may not be taking a traditional step toward that — going through training camp with an NFL team — he’s been playing football for the past month-and-a-half. Just not in the United States.

Lewis has been on the Montreal Alouettes since the middle of June, joining the team at the end of training camp, and he’ll make his Canadian Football League debut Thursday against the Winnepeg Blue Bombers.

The Wyoming Valley Conference and Penn State alum has been on the Alouettes’ practice squad and was told on Saturday that he’ll move to the active roster and suit up Thursday night.

“I know I’m going to play for sure,” the wide receiver said. “I’m going to work throughout the week — through practices and stuff like that — how much they’re going to use me, but I think everything’s going really well and I’m really excited for the opportunity.”

Taking his talents to Montreal and the CFL, the former Wyoming Valley West football star will be playing on national television for the first time since the Sugar Bowl, when he caught two passes for 40 yards in a 35-19 Oklahoma win over Auburn. Thursday’s game will be televised on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m.

It’s been a long road for Lewis, going undrafted in April and making stops at both the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks’ rookie minicamps, but he’s is finally back where he wants to be. On the football field.

“Everybody’s main goal is still to get to the NFL, but sometimes it doesn’t always go the way that you plan it. You have to go through some obstacles to get where you need to go,” Lewis said. “I look at everything happens for a reason. God gave me this opportunity to go out here and just show what I can do. I’m glad that my family will be able to watch me on TV and things like that.”

Joining the Alouettes late in camp and having to learn a brand new style of football — one that is played on a bigger field and allows skilled players to move forward pre-snap — Lewis knew he was behind the eight ball. But he believes it was the impressive 40-yard catch he made in the final week of the preseason that helped seal his spot on the roster.

Ever since, he has been studying the playbook and waiting for his opportunity to shine.

Now it’s here and Lewis is ready to take advantage and help his team win. Montreal sits at 2-3 and in second place in the East heading into Thursday’s tilt.

“I’m just ready and hungry to start my professional career right now, and see where this takes me,” Lewis said. “For me, I personally just want to go out there and go and make plays and do something exciting and get the crowd into it. That’s always been my way of going out and playing just because the game of football is entertainment and we have to go out there and entertain the fans.”

Oklahoma wide receiver Geno Lewis (5) catches a pass as Auburn defensive back Daniel Thomas (24) tries to tackle him during the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game, Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Geno-Lewis3-1.jpg Oklahoma wide receiver Geno Lewis (5) catches a pass as Auburn defensive back Daniel Thomas (24) tries to tackle him during the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game, Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

By DJ Eberle [email protected]

Reach DJ Eberle at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @ByDJEberle

Reach DJ Eberle at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @ByDJEberle