At age 41, Marcedes Lewis becomes oldest tight end to play in NFL game

By Canadian Press on November 2, 2025.

HOUSTON (AP) — Denver’s Marcedes Lewis made history Sunday against the Houston Texans, when at age 41 he became the oldest tight end to ever play in an NFL game.

When he entered the game on the fourth snap of Denver’s first drive he also became the oldest player to appear in a game in franchise history.

Lewis is the second-oldest active player in the NFL behind Aaron Rodgers, who will turn 42 in December.

Lewis was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday and promoted to the active roster Saturday.

Evan Engram and Adam Trautman are the Broncos’ only healthy tight ends with Lucas Krull (foot) on IR and Nate Adkins suffering a knee injury last weekend in Denver’s 44-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Adkins also routinely lined up at fullback and H-back, and Lewis has long been one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL.

Lewis was a first-round pick (28th overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars out of UCLA in 2006, the same year that Broncos coach Sean Payton got his first head coaching gig in New Orleans. Lewis played 12 seasons in Jacksonville, five in Green Bay and the past two in Chicago, where he appeared in all 17 games last season.

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AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed to this report.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press