TL;DR
- * Denver Broncos added 41-year-old Marcedes Lewis to practice squad due to tight end injuries.
- * Lewis, a 19-season veteran, is promoted to the active roster for the Texans game.
- * Lewis and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans were both drafted in the 2006 NFL Draft.
- * Lewis could become the oldest player in Broncos history and achieve a reception milestone.
The Denver Broncos, with an injury to tight end Nate Adkins, needed to add another tight end for their Week 9 matchup against the Houston Texans. After missing out on two waiver claims, Denver turned to a veteran free agent.
The Broncos have added 41-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis, a 19-season NFL veteran, to their practice squad. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, he's now being promoted to the active roster for game day.
This selection will bolster the Broncos' tight end options, while also creating a highly compelling contest. Lewis will be up against a Texans squad led by DeMeco Ryans, who was also drafted in the 2006 NFL Draft, the same year as Lewis.
Marcedes Lewis, now on the Broncos' roster, is set to play against DeMeco Ryans and the Texans, a game featuring players from the 2006 NFL draft class.
Lewis was selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, at 28th overall, by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ryans was chosen by The Texans with the 33rd overall pick, just five selections later in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
The #Broncos organization intends to promote veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis, whom they recently added to their practice squad. Lewis, at 41 years old, is scheduled to play on Sunday. Pic.twitter.com/UDDBG9ZEtK
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2025
Both Ryans and Lewis, selected in the fifth round of the draft, went on to have successful NFL careers. Ryans retired after the 2015 season with the Philadelphia Eagles after making two Pro Bowls and winning the 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Lewis continues to play in the NFL after two decades, dedicating nearly 19 seasons to the Jaguars. He departed to become part of the Green Bay Packers prior to his involvement with the Chicago Bears in the years 2023 and 2024.
Having joined the Broncos, he's now set to confront Ryans and the Texans in a remarkable contest featuring two individuals from the same draft year, with one now a coach and the other a player.
More: Denver Broncos' top draft selection named the team's most underwhelming player of 2025 to date
Lewis continues to play in the NFL, a decade after Ryans retired in 2015. While his role isn't as large as it once was, the fact that he's still playing at 41 years old is incredible.
Lewis is set to make Broncos history as the oldest player to ever play for the franchise. Should he make a catch, he'd join Tom Brady and Jerry Rice as the only players to achieve a reception after their 41st birthday.
Beyond this remarkable coincidence involving Ryans, Lewis is poised to achieve one historical milestone and has an opportunity to accomplish another significant feat.
Marcedes Lewis's extensive NFL career means a player drafted just five spots after him in the 2006 draft is now coaching the opposing team.
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