The Calgary Stampeders have found a big-name solution to their injury issues, bringing back American receiver Marken Michel after he spent parts of four seasons in the NFL.
Michel originally played two seasons with the Stampeders, earning the West Division nomination for Most Outstanding Rookie in 2017. In 24 regular-season CFL games, he made 72 catches for 1,215 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had four carries for 47 yards and a touchdown, five kickoff returns for 89 yards and five punt returns for 39 yards.
The five-foot-11, 191-pound target signed with the Philadelphia Eagles following the 2018 season and has since bounced around the NFL, spending time with the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders. He dressed for two regular-season games with Carolina in 2020 but did not record a catch.
Prior to arriving in the CFL, Michel played four seasons with the University of Massachusetts, collecting 92 catches for 1,016 yards and six touchdowns. He briefly signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
The Stampeders have also brought back a pair of training camp cuts in receiver Floyd Allen and running back LeVante Bellamy.
Allen saw action in one preseason game, recording two catches for 46 yards while returning two punts for 10 yards and one kickoff for 22 yards. He previously attended Calgary’s training camp in 2022 and spent time with the Houston Texans and the XFL’s Dallas Renegades following a collegiate career at Ole Miss.
Bellamy played collegiately at Western Michigan where he was named the Mid-American Conference’s offensive player of the year as a senior in 2019 after leading the nation with 23 rushing touchdowns and running for 1,472 yards in 13 games. The two-time all-conference selection ran 617 times for 3,720 yards and 35 touchdowns in 48 games, later spending time with the Denver Broncos.
Calgary also removed receiver Reggie Begelton from the six-game injured list, while officially placing receiver Malik Henry on it after he was lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles.
The Stampeders (1-2) are on a bye in Week 4 and next visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1) on Friday, July 7.
