The Denver Broncos are turning to one of the NFL’s most seasoned veterans to bolster their tight end room, officially signing Marcedes Lewis to the active roster. With Lewis out of standard practice squad elevations, Denver made the move to bring the 41-year-old tight end onto the 53-man roster. To make room, the team waived linebacker Garret Wallow and elevated rookie linebacker Jordan Turner.
Lewis isn’t just a familiar name - he’s a walking piece of NFL history. A first-round pick back in 2006, Lewis has carved out a career defined by durability, blocking excellence, and locker room leadership. Now in his 18th season, he joins a Broncos team looking for stability and veteran presence as they navigate the back stretch of the season.
Though he hasn’t recorded a stat in his three appearances this year, Lewis’ value goes beyond the box score. At 6-foot-6 and over 260 pounds, he’s long been one of the league’s premier blocking tight ends - essentially a sixth offensive lineman who can still move defenders in the run game. He’s the kind of player who helps set the tone in the trenches, and that’s something Denver clearly values as they continue to shape their identity under head coach Sean Payton.
Lewis’ journey through the NFL has been remarkable. After 12 seasons with the Jaguars - the team that drafted him - he was released during the final year of a three-year, $12 million deal.
He then found a second home in Green Bay, where he signed a two-year, $8 million contract in 2021 and became a trusted piece in Matt LaFleur’s offense, particularly in run-heavy packages. Most recently, he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Bears on consecutive one-year deals before landing in Denver.
While his role in the Broncos’ offense may be limited from a statistical standpoint, Lewis brings a wealth of experience to a young locker room. He’s played in nearly every situation imaginable - from playoff pushes to rebuilds - and that kind of institutional knowledge is rare.
At this point in his career, Lewis isn’t here to chase numbers. He’s here to help win football games, whether that means sealing the edge on a key third-and-short or mentoring the next wave of tight ends in the meeting room.
With the Broncos making a late-season push, bringing Lewis onto the active roster is a calculated move. It’s about more than filling a depth chart spot - it’s about adding a trusted pro who knows how to do the dirty work. And even at 41, Marcedes Lewis still has a place in today’s NFL.