Broncos Sign TE Marcedes Lewis

Marcedes Lewis could become the oldest player to appear in a game in Broncos history, as well as the oldest tight end to play a game in NFL history.

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 05: Marcedes Lewis #84 of the Chicago Bears warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 05, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

The Denver Broncos signed tight end Marcedes Lewis, 41, to their practice squad, the team announced on Oct. 29.

A former first-round draft pick in 2006 and now with his fourth team, Lewis fills a need for the Broncos, whose tight end room has come down with the injury bug of late.

Lewis, in his 20th NFL season, is the second-oldest active player in the NFL, just a few months younger than Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

If he plays in a game this season, he will become the oldest player in Broncos franchise history to do so. He would also surpass his own NFL record set last season with the Chicago Bears as the oldest tight end to play in a game.

“I knew he'd been training, I knew he’s in great shape,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said during a news conference. “He’s a tremendous blocker. ... I’m glad he’s here. He’s a tremendous leader.”

Payton said he signed Lewis to be a blocking tight end because he did not want to be caught in situations where he needed to use extra offensive lineman “jumbo” packages.

Lewis takes pride in his blocking ability.

“Go pull up my film,” Lewis said, according to the Broncos’ official website. “When I first started out, it was more so catching the ball. … Now I’m a point-of-contact blocker. I take that very serious and obviously the leadership and leading from the front, like I always have in my career.”

The Broncos carried four tight ends into the 2025 season. Payton’s versatile “Joker” in the passing game, Evan Engram, veteran Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and hybrid tight end/fullback Nate Adkins.

Krull is on injured reserve after having surgery to repair a foot injury. Adkins was injured in Denver’s Week 8 contest against the Dallas Cowboys. Besides Lewis, the Broncos currently have two tight ends on their practice squad: 2025 seventh-round pick Caleb Lohner, and Patrick Murtagh, the team’s international roster exemption player.

The Broncos carried four tight ends into the 2025 season: Evan Engram, veteran Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and hybrid tight end/fullback Nate Adkins.

Krull is on injured reserve after undergoing surgery to repair a foot injury. Adkins was injured in Denver’s Week 8 game against the Dallas Cowboys. Besides Lewis, the Broncos currently have two tight ends on their practice squad: 2025 seventh-round pick Caleb Lohner and Patrick Murtagh, the team’s international roster exemption player.

Lewis told reporters that he lives his life in windows of 1 to 3 years. When he reached 15 seasons, he still felt good, so he tried to push his career to 18 years.

After surpassing that milestone, he looked ahead to year 20. Lewis did not attend a training camp this year, and said he missed being around his teammates and “building up the gristle in my bones to get ready for war” during the season. He said the team is giving him “bits and pieces” while he gets accustomed to the offense.

The 20-year vet was not going to put a hard cap on how many years he has left.

“I’m not going to question it. I just know that I feel really good,” Lewis said. “I’ve never had any surgeries, knock on wood. ... And my mental fortitude is what pushes me forward to be here standing in front of you right now, and just taking it one day at a time.”

Payton joked that he could keep playing for a long time if he wanted to.

“I think when he’s 55, he’s going to be able to block the D-gap,” he said.

Lewis was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars out of UCLA with the 28th overall pick in the 2006 Draft when Payton was in his first year as a head coach with the New Orleans Saints; Lewis was in the same class as current Broncos offensive line coach Zach Strief.

He spent 12 seasons with the Jaguars; he had his best season in 2010, catching 58 passes for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns. He signed with the Packers in 2018 and spent 5 seasons with the team, playing alongside Rodgers. He then signed with the Chicago Bears in 2023 and spent two years with them.

The Broncos play the Houston Texans on Sunday. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans—who was drafted by the Texans in that same 2006 class and played against Lewis for six seasons as a linebacker—gave Lewis props at his news conference on Oct. 29.

“Congrats, Marcedes, you’re still rolling, buddy!” Ryans said. “To be 41 years old, still rolling, that’s impressive for him. But he’s done a good job.”