VERO BEACH, Fla. — Chad Johnson made a sharp cut to free himself from a defender, and then hauled in a pass at the 53-yard line.

Yes, the 53. Football is going to be a little different now for the former NFL star.

The receiver who once changed his last name to Ochocinco might be hearing a lot of “O Canada” this summer, and he insists he’s humbled for that opportunity. Johnson was on the field with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL on Tuesday for the start of their three-day minicamp, and there’s a very realistic chance that he will be with them when their season starts for real in June.

“It’s just football. It’s football,” Johnson said. “It’s not about Montreal. It’s about the opportunity to be able to play football again, something I love.”

It’s something he lost two years ago.

Johnson last appeared in an NFL game during the 2011 season.