After surprisingly releasing former fourth-round pick wide receiver Mack Hollins earlier this week, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to bring back a familiar face to their wide receiver room.
The Eagles announced on Thursday that they signed wide receiver Marken Michel to the practice squad. The 25-year-old wideout is the third player that the Eagles have signed to the practice squad in the last couple of days (DT Kevin Wilkins, CB Tremon Smith).
Michel is now the third wide receiver on the team’s practice squad, joining Marcus Green and Robert Davis. Earlier this week, Howard Balzer reported that Michel and five other players worked out for Philadelphia.
Michel, who is the older brother of New England Patriots running back Sony Michel, spent the last two seasons in the CFL playing for the Calgary Stampeders.
As a rookie in 2017, Michel made an immediate impact for the Stampeders, racking up 41 receptions for 780 yards (19.0 YPC avg) and three touchdowns.
With those types of statistics, the former UMass Minuteman was nominated for Most Outstanding Rookie in the CFL’s West Division.
Furthermore, in his second season with Calgary, Michel had 31 receptions for 435 yards (14.0 YPC avg) and five touchdowns. After his CFL rookie contract came to an end last season, Michel signed a futures deal with the Eagles.
The 25-year-old wide receiver immediately made his presence known during the NFL preseason with an eye-opening performance Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.
In that game, Michel had four receptions for 117 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown reception.
With that in mind and his overall performance, there was a belief that Michel could make Philadelphia’s 53-man roster. But that was not the case as Hollins ultimately claimed the fifth wide receiver spot over.
Heading into their Week 14 matchup against the New York Giants, the Eagles only have four wide receivers on their active roster: Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Greg Ward Jr., and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.
