Tag: Sony Michel

Studs and duds from Chargers’ victory over Falcons

Here’s who came through and who disappointed in the Chargers’ victory over the Falcons.

The Chargers escaped with a 20-17 victory over the Falcons on Sunday following a game-winning field goal by rookie Cameron Dicker.

Here’s who pulled through for the victory and who needed help from their teammates to pull it out.

Stud: Drue Tranquill

Tranquill’s breakout season continued Sunday morning with another stellar performance. The linebacker has excelled as a blitzer this season, a trend that carried through the bye week as Tranquill added another sack by dominating Falcons guard Matt Hennessy on his way to the quarterback. Cordarrelle Patterson did truck Tranquill on his second TD of the game, but for the most part he got into position as a defender and got the job done. With ten total tackles and two for loss, Tranquill continued to show why he deserves a contract extension.

Dud: Drops

This was mostly a third-quarter issue, but drops killed multiple drives for the Chargers that made this game closer than it needed to be. Gerald Everett dropped a pass up the seam on the first play of the second half, causing them to go three and out. On the following drive, Josh Palmer dropped a pass directly at his chest, leading to a Justin Herbert interception off the tip. Everett and Palmer have had drop issues all season, and they’re lucky their mistakes this week did not cost Los Angeles the game.

Stud: Michael Davis

Davis performed very well after being reinserted in the starting lineup after J.C. Jackson’s patellar tendon injury, and it’s clear that this defense is more frequently on the same page assignment-wise when Davis is on the field. Davis was at his best when he was able to jam Drake London at the line of scrimmage, as he did when the Falcons ran London on a fade in the end zone in the second half. The corner was also in position to make tackles when playing as a zone defender and was one of the few defenders who did not noticeably miss any tackles.

Dud: Sony Michel

With Joshua Kelley on injured reserve, the past few weeks have been Michel’s opportunity to cement himself as the clear RB2 option, at least until Kelley returns. Instead, the veteran was phased out in favor of rookie Isaiah Spiller, who out-touched Michel seven to one in this game. Michel was another victim of a costly drop on a second down play and was barely visible in the game after this. Spiller, meanwhile, took seven carries for a pedestrian 29 yards but showed flashes of brilliance as a pass protector. Even if Michel and Spiller are equals at this point, there’s no reason not to play Spiller over the veteran to continue to develop the rookie.

Stud: Run blocking

Trey Pipkins looked healthier in this game until leaving late in the fourth quarter, and it showed in the run game against Atlanta. Pipkins and Zion Johnson moved the Falcons off the line of scrimmage, opening lanes for Ekeler and Spiller to at least get a few yards. Hopefully, Pipkins’ injury is not serious because the Chargers finally looked like they had their rest-of-season offensive line at something resembling 100% in this game. Between Jamaree Salyer, Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, Johnson, and Pipkins, L.A has the potential to at least keep the run game afloat to keep defenses honest.

Dud: Run fits

Defensively, the trenches have work to do. The Chargers continue to struggle to fit the run even with their free-agent additions, largely because their second-level defenders are simply not performing at a high level. Kyle Van Noy played better than Chris Rumph has in the past few weeks, but he still doesn’t quite have the mass to set the edge on the outside. If Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson, who left the game with a knee injury, do not play every play perfectly, it’s guaranteed to be a seven to ten-yard gain. It’s hard to say what the issue is at this point. The team is dealing with injuries, Joey Bosa chief amongst them. It shouldn’t be a talent problem, given the additions. Whatever it is, something needs to be adjusted.

Stud: Khalil Mack

The stat-sheet doesn’t show that Mack had a huge impact on this game, but he’s on here primarily for one play only. Taking the ball away from an NFL receiver as Mack did is a grown-man play. There’s no other way to say it. The situation that play came in is an important factor to consider: the Chargers were leading 14-10 when Mack forced this fumble. Atlanta would have been inside the five-yard line if London went down, and the way their run game was working, they would’ve almost certainly scored a touchdown. Instead, Mack preserved the lead going into halftime and retained LA’s momentum.

Dud: Defensive gameplan

I don’t think the Chargers’ defense played this Falcons’ offense as well as they could have, but they were bailed out on numerous occasions by Marcus Mariota simply missing throws. In their defense, Los Angeles was forced into making some of the decisions I specifically thought they should try to mitigate because of the game state. But Atlanta found success on play-action readily as defenders crashed down to defend against the run, and Mariota frequently put flat defenders into conflict by getting outside the pocket with a short route over the top. Yes, L.A. held Atlanta to 17 points, which should be credited accordingly. But they allowed 201 rushing yards and would’ve given up two or three huge passing plays if Mariota was able to hit a few of the throws that he missed today.

Chargers vs. Browns: 5 storylines to follow in Week 5

Here are five of the biggest storylines to monitor during the Chargers’ matchup with the Browns.

The Chargers travel to Cleveland, looking to take care of business against the Browns and extend their record beyond .500.

Here are five storylines to watch for Sunday’s matchup.

Neutralizing Nick

The Browns have been one of the most efficient rushing teams in the NFL. Nick Chubb is tied for second in the league in rushing yards (459), yards per game (114.8), and touchdowns (5). Kareem Hunt hasn’t found the end zone since Week 1 but averages 4.3 yards per carry.

The Chargers allow an average of 109.8 rushing yards per game, ranking 14th in the league. However, they have allowed a carry of at least 50 yards in the last three games. Chubb has 15 explosive runs (runs over 10 yards).

Los Angeles has done a good job minimizing the run between the tackles with its offseason additions – Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, and Otito Ogbonnia. But it has allowed the damage outside the tackles, where Chubb is most dangerous.

Not having Joey Bosa, one of the team’s best run defenders, is a big deal. Therefore, it is imperative that Chris Rumph II and Kyle Van Noy set firm edges and the second and third levels of the defense take proper angles and wrap up, or else it could be a long day.

Run, baby, run

The Chargers struggled to run the ball in the first three games, resulting in the worst team in that department. However, they broke the mold last weekend against the Texans as Austin Ekeler found the end zone three times, two of which were on the ground.

Heading into this weekend, Los Angeles could be primed to have success running the ball again as the Browns’ defense falls 30th in run defense DVOA. In addition, Cleveland is tied for the third-most rushing touchdowns allowed (6). A big factor in this issue is the lack of stoutness along the defensive line.

Another trend to follow is who will get more carries. While Ekeler will lead the backfield in touches, Joshua Kelley has been the more efficient runner between him and Sony Michel but is still getting fewer snaps. Kelley averages 4.2 yards per carry, while Michel averages just 2.6 YPC.

Building off heck of a debut

After Rashawn Slater ruptured his biceps, the Chargers turned to sixth-round pick Jamaree Salyer to fill his shoes, even after it appeared Salyer was making a full-time transition to guard, having played there throughout camp and preseason.

Nevertheless, as someone who mainly played left tackle at a high level in his final two collegiate seasons at Georgia, Salyer looked at home in his regular-season debut as a pro against the Texans. He did not allow a single pressure in 41 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

While they did scheme to help him – chips from running backs and tight ends, moving pockets, and quick throws, Salyer held rushers at bay in pass protection, displaying great body control, balance, and strength in addition to sealing blocks and getting out in space in the run game.

This weekend, Salyer will draw maybe his toughest task of the year in Myles Garrett. Garrett, the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end, is returning after he suffered a shoulder sprain and biceps strain in a car accident last week. He had 15 pressures and three sacks in the first three games of the season.

Donald’s debut

It looks like the Chargers will get Donald Parham back this weekend, marking his first game of the season. Parham has been out since the beginning of training camp after he injured his hamstring during one of their practices.

Parham’s last game came in Week 15 after suffering what could’ve been a career-ending injury when making a diving catch in the back of the end zone that caused him to be taken on a gurney. Before getting hurt in camp, Parham looked like one of the best players out there.

Parham finished the 2021 season with 20 catches on 27 targets for 190 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games.

Having Parham on the field is huge for the offense. Not only is he a threat as a receiver with his long 6-foot-8 frame to threaten the seams and box out defenders in the red zone, but he is a difference-maker on the edge to seal blocks in the run game.

Keeping the foot on the gas

In each of the Chargers’ games, it’s been a tale of two stories. They have looked good in the first half and have struggled in the second half, as evidenced last weekend as Los Angeles allowed the Texans to cut a 20-point halftime deficit to three points in the fourth quarter.

L.A. is 31st in the NFL in opponent’s second-half points per game (18.8). However, the third quarter is when the most damage is being done. The Chargers have allowed 39 third-quarter points this season, the second-worst. Offensively, they are 25th in second-half points per game (7.8).

The Bolts have to minimize the number of times the Browns have the ball because they lead the league in average time of possession (35:38).

“We definitely need to take control when we make those adjustments in the second half, making sure that we take them to the field, making sure that we execute,” Brandon Staley said.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler comes alive in victory over Texans

Austin Ekeler made his fantasy football owners very happy.

The Chargers’ 34-24 win over the Texans wasn’t exactly pretty. However, there were electrifying moments of eloquence.

Houston kept Los Angeles on its toes in the fourth quarter, but the Bolts were able to close the game with a 14-yard scamper from running back Austin Ekeler into the endzone on a play-action bootleg with less than three minutes remaining. 

“I thought Coach Staley said something pretty cool at the end,” Ekeler said. “He was like, ‘If we would have had a blowout win, it wouldn’t have been as meaningful, and I thought that was true. It came down to getting close in the 4th quarter, only up four like ‘Hey we have to go out there’. 

It showed us a lot like ‘Hey, we have to put a drive together, we got a 4th down’. We got it, and we ended up with points to pretty much seal the game and get up two scores. I agree with him. I’m proud of the offense finishing the game like that.”

Entering Week 4, Ekeler had only 80 rushing yards on 32 carries. He also had not found the end zone. This changed Sunday, as the Ekeler finished with 13 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, he had six receptions and a receiving touchdown. 

Ekeler’s performance is a shining light for Chargers fans and his fantasy owners since he had been largely absent on the ground in the first three games of the season. 

Quarterback Justin Herbert spoke on the importance of the team’s run game: “It’s huge,” Herbert said. “It all starts with those guys up front, and to have the backs like we do, you got to take advantage of that. We think really highly of our offensive linemen, especially our running  backs, so it was good to see today.”

The run game is a crucial element to a winning team in the NFL, and getting production on the ground going forward will help balance the passing game for Los Angeles. 

“At the end, I thought, I loved our commitment to it,” Staley said on today’s run game. “I thought that that allowed our line to really get into rhythm, which I think helped our passing game. We didn’t get any big splitters today, but I thought we had a lot of productive runs, kind of stayed out of the negative runs, and it felt like we ran the ball really well when we needed to.”

Ekeler is the Bolts’ best asset on the ground, and if he can consistently perform with that sort of firepower he showed today, the Chargers will be one of the most dangerous offenses in the league this season. 

As for the other running back’s performances, Joshua Kelley had four rushes for 15 yards, which came exclusively in the first half. Sony Michel had 11 yards on six carries, all of which came in the second half.

“I feel like we were able to put something together today even though it was still a battle,” Ekeler said. “Ended up getting what I felt like was a team win, so it’s good to get back on the right track. We’re trying to go on a run here, always starts with the first one so now we got one, and we have to do it again.”

Studs and duds from Chargers’ 34-24 win over Texans

Here’s who came through and who disappointed in the Chargers’ victory over the Texans.

The Chargers got back on the winning track on Sunday in Houston, pulling out a 34-24 victory over the Texans.

The game shouldn’t have been as close as the final score indicates, primarily due to a few poor performances in the second half.

Here’s who came through and who disappointed in Week 4.

Stud: Jamaree Salyer

Give this kid all the flowers you have, man. Salyer hadn’t played left tackle as a pro even in practice until this week and then got thrown out as a starter against a Texans team with four pass rushers with a pass rush win rate of at least 12%. Yet, by my count, Salyer didn’t give up much, and the offensive line only allowed one sack to Houston’s defensive front. The rookie hardly had his name called all morning, generally a fantastic sign for an offensive lineman. Salyer also made his mark as a run blocker the same way he did in the preseason, proving to be a key cog in getting the rushing attack going for the first time this season.

Dud: Kenneth Murray

Murray has improved since last season, but it’s becoming clearer that he’s simply not a viable option in coverage. LA used him primarily as a blitzer in the second half against Houston, a role in which he could find effectiveness as a power rusher. But in coverage, Murray frequently found himself on the wrong side of plays. While it’s not fair to expect him to hang with slot receivers like Brandin Cooks, he’s being asked to at least share that responsibility at a clip that simply does not make sense. At some point, I think the Chargers need to consider taking him off the field in clear passing situations unless he’s going to be rushing the passer.

Stud: Khalil Mack

There was a bit of concern about Mack’s ability to make an impact on this game with Joey Bosa out, considering Houston was likely going to send extra help his way all morning. Despite that, Mack had his usual fantastic day, regardless of whether he was on the left or right side. Tytus Howard was bullied by the former All-Pro, while left tackle Laremy Tunsil committed at least two penalties trying to keep Mack contained. A key fourth and one sack, a pressure on Davis Mills’ interception to Nasir Adderley, and two QB hits made for another standout game.

Dud: Nasir Adderley

Speaking of Adderley, that interception was the only positive play of the day for the safety. Mills’ pass floated right to him on that play, so it’s hard to even give him that much credit for being in the right place at the right time. For the rest of the game, Adderley struggled with the thing he’s always struggled with: taking the correct pursuit angles. He overran Dameon Pierce on the rookie’s 75-yard TD run, expecting Pierce to cut inside. Instead, Pierce caught him flat-footed and beat him to the outside, outracing everyone else to the end zone. Adderley also overran a few routes in the flat; when the Chargers adjusted by making Derwin James the flat defender, Houston found no success with such plays.

Stud: Mike Williams

Williams finally had the type of game we’d been clamoring for him to have since Keenan Allen went down in Week 1. While he had the stats in Week 2 against Kansas City, he primarily won the ways he usually does: deep, contested catches down the sideline. Today, we saw the $60 million man win at every level of the field. Williams was consistently open on slants because rookie corner Derek Stingley Jr. was playing off coverage to hedge against the deep route. He won on crossers in intermediate areas because LA got the running game moving and forced Houston’s linebackers to account for the possibility of a ground attack. It resulted in a seven reception, 120-yard performance on 11 targets. This is what LA needs if Keenan Allen can’t go.

Dud: JC Jackson

Maybe Jackson still isn’t quite right. It’s only his second game as a Charger because of his ankle surgery, and in that first game against the Chiefs, it was obvious that he wasn’t 100%. But this week, Jackson was off the injury report by Friday, indicating that he’s supposed to be full go. Yet he was consistently Davis Mills’ favorite corner to target today, giving up a big catch to Nico Collins and committing a pass interference penalty. His tackling effort on tight end Jordan Akins was also poor, forcing his teammates to recover to bring Akins down by his ankles inside the Chargers’ five-yard line. Again, it’s early, and Jackson still gets his legs back under him. But the contract LA gave him to be their version of Jalen Ramsey is beginning to look like a painful mistake.

Stud: Austin Ekeler

We talked this week about how something had to give between Houston’s league-worst run defense and LA’s league-worst run offense. Although Ekeler still only had 60 yards on the ground, it was a massive improvement over the 27 yards a game he had been averaging through the first three weeks. The Chargers also made it a point to get Ekeler more involved in the short passing game, giving him seven targets for six receptions, 49 yards, and the game-sealing touchdown. Ekeler’s hat-trick will be a big confidence-building performance for him and this new-look offensive line without Rashawn Slater. And yes, it’s against Houston. But maybe this is LA’s spark to get the rushing attack back on track.

Dud: Finishing ability

This Chargers team is built to play a 30-minute game. It’s that simple. There is zero reason they should have let an inferior Texans team get back into the game after going into halftime up 27-7. You cannot score 27 points in the first half and then punt on your first three second-half drives while the Texans score two touchdowns. You cannot fumble a kickoff return and lose further momentum by allowing Houston to kick a field goal to bring it to 27-24. The Chargers went away from everything that worked in the first half until late into the fourth quarter when they had to. Perhaps the most egregious example was Joshua Kelley’s usage. Kelley looked like LA’s best rusher in the first half, consistently getting 6, 7, and 8 yards per carry. Yet in the second half, it was all Sony Michel, who continues to be ineffective. I understand you want to get Michel going in a game that should be all but won when you’re up 20. But at some point, you must ride the hot hand, which goes for the entire team. Learn to play a 60-minute game, otherwise, better teams than this can and will beat you.

Good opportunity for Chargers to get going on ground vs. Texans

The Chargers will be going up against the NFL’s worst run defense.

The Chargers fell victim to getting gashed on the ground against the Texans a season ago, as they allowed 189 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries (5.3 YPC).

As Los Angeles is set to take on Houston this Sunday, this could be the perfect opportunity to get even. The Texans’ rush defense is the worst in the NFL, allowing more than 200 yards per game.

Easier said than done, however.

The Bolts are currently coming off an underwhelming performance in their loss to the Jaguars, where they had 26 rushing yards on a dozen carries (2.2 yards per attempt).

Through three games, the Chargers have 67 rushes for 177 yards and no rushing touchdowns. They are dead-last in the league with 59.0 rushing yards per game.

Austin Ekeler is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry. Sony Michel is averaging 2.9 yards per carry. Joshua Kelley leads the pack with 4.4 yards per carry, but he’s only rushed nine times. Rookie Isaiah Spiller has yet to make his regular season debut.

It’s easy to point fingers at the running backs for the lack of efficiency. While some of that is the case, a big factor is a combination of below-par run-blocking and lack of continuity up front.

Run game coordinator and offensive line coach from the 2021 season, Frank Smith, left to join the Dolphins to take over as their offensive coordinator. To replace Smith, Brendan Nugent was hired to oversee the offensive line alongside Shaun Sarrett.

Matt Feiler has been a disappointment up to this point. Corey Linsley has been out since the halfway point of the Week 2 loss to the Chiefs, so the team had to start Will Clapp. Rookie Zion Johnson and Trey Pipkins have slowly been building chemistry on the right side.

Further, fullback Zander Horvath is a rookie and still learning the details of the system. Tight ends Gerald Everett and Tre’ McKitty have been fine, but the Chargers’ best blocker at the position, Donald Parham, has yet to play this season as he nurses a hamstring issue.

“We have to get the ball running. We have to run the ball,” said Ekeler. “We got to get ourselves more efficient so [Offensive Coordinator] Joe [Lombardi] trusts us running the ball. It comes down to us getting it done.”

While Justin Herbert continues to work his way to total health from his rib injury, he will need a consistent rushing attack to take some of the load off his shoulders. This would be the game to do just that and start building momentum in that department.

Fantasy Football: 10 utilization stats to know from Week 2

Here are the utilization stats you should know from Week 2 of the NFL season.

We now have a two-game sample size of fantasy football data to work with from the 2022 NFL season.

It’s still a relatively small sample size, but trends are starting.

Before you make any roster cuts or waiver claims for Week 3, here are 10 utilization notes to know following Week 2.

Chargers’ causes for concern vs. Raiders in Week 1

A look at some causes for concern as the Los Angeles Chargers gear up to face the Las Vegas Raiders.

There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Chargers’ season, set to kick off on Sunday with a home game against the Raiders.

We know both teams will bring the energy for a heated rivalry game, though, and there are a few reasons to be concerned about the matchup with Vegas.

Here are four of them:

J.C. Jackson injury

Jackson hasn’t yet returned to practice after undergoing ankle surgery two weeks ago, which seems to suggest he’ll be out on Sunday. That leaves Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr. as the two starting corners on the outside. One of them will have to cover Davante Adams for the majority of this game, with Bryce Callahan in the slot against Hunter Renfrow and Derwin James likely manning up Darren Waller. The Chargers should be confident in Callahan and James to get their jobs done, but Davis and/or Samuel on Adams could be a bit of a pain point. The injury to Jackson also weakens the depth in the secondary – if anyone else goes down, rookies Ja’Sir Taylor and Deane Leonard are next up in the rotation.

Unclear running back rotation

Isaiah Spiller continues to nurse an ankle injury, leaving his role in Week 1 a bit unclear. Joshua Kelley and newly signed Sony Michel will likely split the second running back duties, but there are reasons to be cautious about both. While Kelley has looked much improved this offseason, he has yet to prove he can be a high-impact player in games that count. Michel has struggled with his health, which has partially contributed to a declining yards per carry average over the past few seasons that led to him getting cut by the Dolphins earlier this offseason. If the Raiders can limit Ekeler, one of the three other options will have to step up. But will any of them get consistent enough reps to get into a groove?

Offensive line chemistry

Rashawn Slater and Matt Feiler return on the left side. They’re not the issue here. What could be one, especially for Week 1, is the chemistry between rookie Zion Johnson and his compatriots. Center Corey Linsley didn’t play a single snap of preseason action as one of the Chargers’ many bubble-wrapped veterans, but he’s also had a series of mysterious vet rest days in practice. That leaves him and Johnson without a full complement of reps in practice and zero live opportunities to work out the kinks. On the other side, Johnson has had to build chemistry with both right tackles: Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton. Pipkins eventually won the job, and his chemistry did look better with Johnson. But again, it’s only half the number of reps the rookie could’ve had with his right tackle. Those hiccups could lead to pressure on Justin Herbert or rapidly closing holes for Ekeler and the running game.

Return game threats

Maybe it’s just because my childhood is marred with memories of the Raiders blocking multiple Mike Scifres punts back in 2010, but special teams is always one of my focus areas whenever these two teams meet. This year, I think the biggest concern is in the return game, especially after watching Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin torch the Chargers for a kick and punt return touchdown. Raiders kick returner Ameer Abdullah is tied for third among active NFL players in kick return average with 25.4 yards per return, behind only Cordarrelle Patterson and former Charger Andre Roberts. Abdullah is also fourth in total kick return yardage among active players behind Patterson, Roberts, and Tyler Lockett. Hunter Renfrow is a lesser threat as a punt returner, but his shiftiness is not to be underestimated. If Los Angeles hasn’t patched the holes that led to Turpin’s huge preseason game, it could be a rough afternoon for them.

Projecting Chargers’ Week 1 offensive depth chart

Here’s who we expect to start on offense for the Chargers entering the 2022 season.

The Chargers have until September 11th to get their Week 1 depth chart sorted out before their matchup with the Raiders.

Here’s my projection for the offensive side:

L.A. Chargers sign former Georgia RB

Sony Michel to the Chargers…

Former Georgia running back Sony Michel signed with the L.A. Chargers on Wednesday.

UGA’s third all-time leading rusher (3,638 yards) was released by the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday as teams finalized their 53-man rosters ahead of the 2022 season, which begins next week.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch7uHF6pKLr/?hl=en

The two-time Super Bowl champion and 2018 first-round draft pick played three seasons for the New England Patriots and last season with the Super Bowl champion L.A. Rams.

DawgNation may remember Michel most for his game-winning touchdown to secure the overtime Rose Bowl win and send Georgia to the national championship in 2018.

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4 things to know about new Chargers RB Sony Michel

Here is a quick look at a few things Chargers fans should know about their newest player, Sony Michel.

The Chargers signed Sony Michel after a visit with the team on Wednesday morning.

Here are some things to know about the newest member of the team:

Productive when healthy

Despite concerns over Michel’s lack of burst after a series of injuries, one fact remains. The former first-round pick has rushed for over 800 yards in every season that he’s played at least ten games. His career-worst yards per carry average is 3.7. Michel also upped his productivity as a receiver with the Rams last year, logging 21 catches for 128 yards, both career highs. As long as he can stay on the field, Michel is a player who can and will produce with the touches he’s given.

Postseason performer

Michel had a stellar postseason in 2018, scoring six touchdowns on 71 carries for New England on their way to a Super Bowl victory. While he wasn’t as effective in the playoffs for the Rams last season, part of that can be attributed to the return of Cam Akers from an Achilles tear. Brandon Staley has emphasized bringing in players with championship experience to aid a Chargers squad that, for the most part, has never seen the playoffs. Michel has two Super Bowl rings and can impart what it takes to get there to the rest of the team.

American dream

Michel is the child of Haitian immigrants, both of whom moved to the United State before he was born. His mother, Marie, left Haiti in 1990, spending three months in the Bahamas before taking an overnight boat with 13 other people to Miami. She met Michel’s father, Jean, in Orlando in 1991 before going back for Sony’s half-sister Lamise in 1996. Michel honored his Haitian heritage in 2019 during My Cause, My Cleats, wearing bright red cleats adorned with the Haitian flag and a rendition of the Britney Gengel orphanage, named after an American volunteer who was one of the victims of the 2010 earthquake in the country.

Injury history

Michel brings with him a long list of injuries suffered on the field. Going back to high school, the 27-year-old tore his ACL as a sophomore in 2011. In 2014, he missed five games with a fractured shoulder. Before 2016, he broke his forearm in an ATV accident. The fall of 2017 brought an ankle injury. Once he broke into the NFL, he had a procedure done to alleviate a knee strain suffered in December 2017. He then had off-season foot surgery and missed six games with a quad injury in 2020 before the Patriots traded him to the Rams.