Manziel misses practice

Johnny Manziel wasn’t at the Montreal Alouettes’ first practice of the week, but coach Mike Sherman expects him to be in the lineup on Saturday in Edmonton.

Sherman said Manziel attended a quarterbacks meeting Tuesday but missed practice because of “a previously diagnosed medical condition that required blood work.”

There were fears that Manziel suffered a concussion when he took a crushing hit while trying to run the ball over the goalline for a touchdown during a 24-17 defeat in Ottawa on the weekend. He did not appear to be as sharp afterward. He fumbled on the play, but Montreal recovered for the major.

But Sherman sees no reason why Manziel would not be fit to play in Edmonton.

“Nothing that I’ve been told or indicated,” he said. “He and I spent a lot of time after the game sitting on the bench talking at the stadium before we headed home, talking about how he did, talking about everything.

“There was nothing he indicated to me or anybody else that it would be a problem.”

He expects Manziel to be back on the field on Wednesday. That would give the former Texas A&M and Cleveland Browns pivot only two full practices before starting his third CFL game.

He looked much improved in Ottawa from his CFL debut the week before, when he was picked off four times in the first half against Hamilton.

In his first game, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner completed only 11 passes for 104 yards. In his second outing, he found his receivers 16 times for 168 yards, with no interceptions. But he has Montreal Alouettes quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) is tackled by the Ottawa Redblacks after running into the endzone during second half CFL action in Ottawa on Saturday.

yet to throw a touchdown pass. Now he’ll face one of the

league’s best teams without full preparation.