EJ Manuel has described playing in his first home game for the Buffalo Bills as "awesome".

The rookie quarterback came off the bench during the Bills' 20-16 pre-season win over the Minnesota Vikings.

The 23-year-old told reporters: "It was awesome. Being here in the home crowd, there has obviously been a great showing at practices and things like that the past couple of weeks, but to be here and get a chance to play in the Ralph has been awesome.

"I just want to continue to show [offensive coordinator Nathaniel] Hackett that I can learn and continue to show what I can do out on the field to my teammates and continue to earn their respect. I am satisfied and happy we won the game and I thought we played well tonight.

"Coach Hackett just continues to preach to slow down and relax, when I get out there and just have fun. That's the biggest thing, with a sport that we love to play and I love it so that's the biggest thing he told me just relax and go out there and have fun."

Manuel, who was picked in the first round of this year's Draft, is competing with Kevin Kolb to be the team's starting quarterback.