PHILADELPHIA — Marken Michel didn’t tell his Super Bowl-winning brother when he signed a futures contract with the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this offseason, and he didn’t tell mother.

Michel wanted to keep things “really low-key” in keeping with his personality, and he didn’t want to make a big deal about his move from the Canadian Football League back to the NFL.

Of course, that caused a little consternation in the Michel household.

“It's crazy because I didn't tell anybody when I signed,” Michel said last month after an Eagles minicamp practice. “Everybody found out on Twitter. My mom called me and was like, ‘What's this?’ I was like, ‘I don't know what you're talking about.’ I've always been that kind of person. I like to keep things to myself, but then when everybody found out, it kind of went crazy. But I just was like, God opened a door, let me go in and see what I can do with this.”

Michel said he doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, but the 26-year-old wide receiver turned some heads this spring. During the 10 days of organized team activities and three days of mandatory minicamp, the speedy Michel was one of the team’s most impressive wide receivers.

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He certainly faces a bit of an uphill climb for a roster spot with Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor seemingly entrenched in starting roles and rookie JJ Arcega-Whiteside also turning in an impressive spring after the Eagles picked him in the second round.

That leaves Michel in a cluster that features former draft picks Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson, journeyman Charles Johnson, the versatile Braxton Miller and undrafted free agent DeAndre Thompkins to compete for a roster spot down on the depth chart. But with Jeffery, Jackson and Agholor all sitting out the spring at various points, Michel got some extra reps, especially with fellow roster hopeful Greg Ward Jr. in Agholor’s vacant slot spot.

“Marken, another young, explosive player that [we] didn't really know a whole lot about,” coach Doug Pederson said last month. “Started getting him in the mix and working him. Those two guys kind of in that slot, Nelly's spot right now. They both have flashed and done a really good job. It's part of that competition and the depth that we talk about a lot around here. It's going to be an interesting camp with some of those decisions that are going to have to be made at the end.”

Michel spent the past two seasons in the CFL, where he caught 72 passes for 1,215 yards and eight touchdowns in 24 games for the Calgary Stampeders. An injury ended Michel’s 2018 season during the Stampeders’ run to the Grey Cup.

Michel’s success in Canada created a situation that was difficult for him to leave. He was getting consistent playing time, and he was a top target on one of the CFL’s top teams. But Michel still harbored NFL aspirations, so when the Eagles called, he knew he had to make a change.

“I feel like it was just the success I was having,” Michel said. “A lot of guys do get caught up in that and they sometimes get stuck, so that played a major role. I feel like it was the individual success I was having. And I was having a good time.”

Still, the time in another professional league helped Michel learn more mental aspects of the game, including reading defenses and identifying schemes before the snap. And while the American game might be different from the Canadian game, it’s still another experience Michel can draw on in Philadelphia.

Earlier this year, Michel watched his younger brother, Sony, score the only touchdown in the New England Patriots’ win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Sony Michel was a star running back at Georgia, and he rushed for 931 yards in his rookie season after the Patriots drafted him in the first round. Marken Michel said the two are competitive, though the older brother said he’s superior when it comes to their one-on-one exploits.

The brothers are similar, the older Michel said. Neither craves the spotlight, even if each has found themselves in it recently, albeit on vastly different stages.

Michel is trying to make a run at a professional career like his younger brother. He was established in Canada, but he has the opportunity to compete for a roster spot in the NFL. And that’s what he’s focused on. He isn’t concerned about potentially returning to Canada or what happens after this summer.

He’s keeping things close to the vest.

“I’m not really thinking about that,” Michel said. “I’m worrying about today and tomorrow. I can’t worry about what’s done.”

Daniel Gallen covers the Philadelphia Eagles for PennLive. He can be reached at dgallen@pennlive.com. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Follow PennLive’s Philadelphia Eagles coverage on Facebook and YouTube.

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