Broncos take a swing and land exactly what they need even before the trade deadline with a real chance to make history

Adam Schefter reported that after a tryout , the team has signed 41-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis. The veteran is now on the team's practice squad, but has a real shot to get called up for the upcoming contest against the Houston Texans. If Lewis were to be brought up to the active roster, he would become the oldest tight end to play in a game in NFL history.

What's more, he could break some Broncos history as well. Quarterback Peyton Manning was the oldest player to ever play in a game for Denver when he won Super Bowl 50 at 39 years old. Lewis would shatter that team history by appearing in just one game throughout the 2025 season.

Lewis' longevity is unmatched in NFL history

Lewis is expected to slot behind tight ends Evan Engram and Adam Trautman after the aforementioned injury to Adkins. In his 20th season in the league, the talented tight end has played in over 290 career games, which includes the postseason.

Throughout his career, he has caught 437 passes for over 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, but his role on the Broncos will predominantly be to block.

The veteran tight end is the only remaining member of the 2006 draft class. Both he and head coach Sean Payton were rookies at the same time. Lewis was taken by Jacksonville in the same year Payton became the head coach for the New Orleans Saints.

Nearly two decades after entering the league alongside Payton, Lewis now reunites with a coach from his rookie year's class. It's a story of longevity, leadership, and one last shot to make NFL history, this time in orange and blue.

What Lewis brings to the table

Wendell Ferreira, who covers the Packers for A to Z Sports, brings his perspective about how Marcedes Lewis’ tenure went in Green Bay.

“Lewis played five seasons in Green Bay, which sounds crazy in retrospect but shows just how insane his longevity is. The tight end arrived in 2018 but re-signed with the Packers multiple times, helping during the transition from Mike McCarthy to Matt LaFleur.

"Beyond being a truly elite blocker, he was also a reliable short-yardage target for Aaron Rodgers. Both veterans also got extremely close on a personal level, and Rodgers started calling Lewis the 'Big Dog.' Earlier this season, Lewis revealed that he wanted to return to Green Bay and LaFleur was down to it, but the front office wanted to go younger — especially to develop younger leaders in the locker room.

"Overall, though, Marcedes Lewis is an excellent addition by any team. His blocking skills are nearly unmatched, even at his age, and he brings great leadership and perspective to the locker room — something particularly important with a young quarterback like the Broncos have in Bo Nix.” — Wendell Ferreira, A to Z Sports Green Bay.