Marcedes Lewis is writing a new chapter to his novel, The Old Man and the NFL Sea.
The 41-year-old tight end is signing with the Denver Broncos' practice squad, NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported on Wednesday, per sources.
The Broncos have a need for a blocking tight end after Nate Adkins suffered a knee injury in Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys. In steps Lewis, still one of the best blockers at his position.
A first-round pick by the Jaguars in 2006, Lewis spent his first 12 seasons in Jacksonville (2006-2017) before a five-year trip to Green Bay (2018-2022) and playing the past two campaigns in Chicago.
If he appears in a game this season, it would mark his 20th campaign. Lewis will be the second-oldest player in the NFL in 2025 behind only Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, quarterback Joe Flacco and kickers Matt Prater and Nick Folk are the only players 40 years old or older to appear in the NFL this season.
The oldest tight end to appear in an NFL game in NFL history was Lewis himself in Week 18 last season with the Bears (40 years, 231 days old). Lewis is the only TE to play a game at 40-plus (second-oldest: Seattle's Jeff Robinson, at 39 years and 317 days old in Week 17, 2009).
For his career, Lewis has generated 5,115 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns on 437 catches.
Only two players in NFL history have caught a pass in the NFL at age 41-plus: Jerry Rice (70) and Tom Brady (1, a 6-yard reception from Julian Edelman in Week 10, 2018 at Tennessee). Lewis would pass Brady as the second-oldest player to do so if he catches a pass this season. Lewis is already the third-oldest player in NFL history to catch a pass (40 years, 147 days old with the Bears in Week 6, 2024).
The oldest player to score a touchdown in Broncos history is John Elway, who reached pay dirt on a fourth-quarter rushing TD in Super Bowl XXXIII at 38 years and 217 days old.
The specialty of the man affectionately known as Big Dog is his blocking. The 6-foot-6, 267-pound tight end is stellar in pass protection and a people mover in the run game. It's the trait that has kept him employed long after others in his draft class long since left the profession.
For context, the rest of his 2006 first-round class hung up their cleats long ago. No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams last played in 2016. Ditto for Reggie Bush. Vince Young, No. 3, last took a snap in 2011. Lewis' teammate at UCLA, Maurice Jones-Drew, who was selected 32 picks after the TE by Jacksonville, ended his career in 2014.
Broncos QB Bo Nix was 6 years old when Lewis was drafted in 2006. Sean Payton handled his first draft as the Saints head coach in 2006 and selected Bush second overall.
Devin Hester, taken in the second round in 2006, is already in the Hall of Fame. DeMeco Ryans, taken five picks after Lewis, is in his third season as the head coach of the Houston Texans.
And Big Dog keeps plugging along.
