The 42-year-old tight end played in three games as a practice squad callup. Now, he’s where he belongs — on the active, 53-man roster.
LAS VEGAS — Can’t keep a young man down.
The Broncos promoted tight end Marcedes Lewis from their practice squad to their 53-man roster Saturday as they will need him to help block for their offense in the AFC West Division game here Sunday afternoon against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
It took some inside linebacker roster juggling to make room for Lewis. The Broncos waived Garret Wallow while elevating another inside linebacker, rookie Jordan Turner, from the practice squad. Turner won’t be on the 53-man roster, but he will be on the game-day roster to replace Wallow’s position on Darren Rizzi’s special teams units.
Lewis is 42 years young. After playing 19 seasons with Jacksonville, Green Bay and Chicago, he signed up for his 20th NFL season through the Broncos’ practice squad in late October to replace injured tight end Nate Adkins. Lewis was elevated from the practice squad for the maximum three games. He played 38 snaps but he has yet to get a Bo Nix pass thrown his way.
Adkins suffered a PCL strain in his left knee in the Broncos’ 44-24 rout of the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 26 and there was hope he could return after two weeks off to play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 16. Adkins did participate in the team stretch a couple days before the Chiefs’ game but he hasn’t been seen since, other than on the side rehab field.
Although Adkins will now miss his fifth consecutive game because of the knee injury, he still hasn’t been placed on short-term injured reserve where a player must miss at least four games while not taking up a roster spot because again, the initial evaluation lent hope Adkins would have a chance to return by earlier.