Broncos Audition Marcedes Lewis, Miss On Two TE Waiver Claims
The Broncos are certainly showing their hand when it comes to tight ends. After reports of trade interest in the position, the team made multiple waiver claims and has now gone through with a Marcedes Lewis workout.
Attempting to play a 20th NFL season, Lewis met with the Broncos about a gig (per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Lewis spent the past two seasons with the Bears, being used regularly as a blocker despite his advanced age. At 41, Lewis is attempting to make history on multiple fronts.
[RELATED: Broncos Going Week-To-Week With Patrick Surtain’s Injury]
Lewis already the oldest pure tight end in NFL history. In terms of skill positions, only Jerry Rice has played beyond his age-39 season. Rice played his age-41 season in Oakland in 2003 and kept going at 42, being traded to Seattle midseason. Being in a conversation with the greatest skill player in NFL history is certainly notable for Lewis, even if he does not end up catching on with Denver (where Rice held his retirement presser after a summer 2005 attempt to catch on with the Broncos).
The Broncos are eyeing Lewis for a role complementing Evan Engram and Adam Trautman. Rather than seek a pass-catching tight end to give Engram some help after a sluggish start, Denver is believed to want depth help. Lucas Krull‘s foot surgery will put his return from IR in doubt, and fullback/TE Nate Adkins suffered a knee injury Sunday. Engram and Trautman reside as Denver’s top two tight ends, but another could join the duo soon.
A 2006 first-round pick, Lewis has proven an incredibly durable player even into his 40s. He has not missed a game since the 2021 season. After a 12-year Jaguars tenure, Lewis played five Packers seasons. Primarily working as a blocker in Green Bay and Chicago, Lewis played more than 40% of the Packers’ offensive snaps from 2019-22. With Chicago, his usage dipped toward the 20% threshold.
Last season, Lewis played 19% of the Bears’ snaps. He started eight games and caught five passes as a Bear but was mostly used in the run game. Lewis has played in 285 career games, starting 229. He would be more than 10 years older than every Broncos offensive player save for Garett Bolles (33). But Lewis recently held a role as a third tight end, complementing Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett in Chicago last year.
In addition to Lewis, the Broncos telegraphed their interest in TE help by submitting two waiver claims Monday. The team attempted to add tight ends Brenden Bates and Ben Sims, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Teams with better waiver priorities (Browns, Vikings) were awarded the players. The Texans waived Bates, while the Packers cut Sims. Adkins remains on Denver’s active roster, but a move for another option here appears imminent.
Broncos Eyeing TE Help; Lucas Krull Set For Surgery
Calls for the Broncos to improve Courtland Sutton‘s wingman situation have gone unheeded for a while, and the team quieted concerns about the situation in a blowout win over the Cowboys on Sunday. That game featured regular contributions from Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant and more tertiary work from Evan Engram, who has come along slowly in Sean Payton‘s offense.
Engram remains the Broncos’ starting tight end, but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates the team has looked into the trade market at this position ahead of the November 4 deadline. Rather than add a player to challenge Engram atop the depth chart, the team may instead be aiming for a depth move.
Stationed on IR, Lucas Krull is not in position to be activated anytime soon. The backup is set to undergo foot surgery, 9News’ Mike Klis reports. Krull, a former Saints UDFA who has been with the Broncos for three seasons, has been on IR for four weeks.
He would be eligible to come off the injured list for Week 9, but this surgery is now on track to sideline him for roughly two more months, the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson notes, adding the surgery is on track for today. The initial plan of rehab did not end up working, leading to the surgery route.
Krull made some minor contributions to the 2023 and ’24 Broncos editions, squads that did not receive much from their tight end contingents. In 2024, Krull caught 19 passes for 152 yards. He has just two catches for 15 yards this year. Additionally, Klis notes tight end/fullback Nate Adkins sustained a knee injury that appears likely to cost him time. Categorizing Denver’s TE search as for a depth option, Klis reiterates Engram and ex-Saint Adam Trautman remain the top two for the 6-2 team at this position.
Denver has seventh-round rookie Caleb Lohner, a converted basketball player, on its practice squad. Patrick Murtaugh also resides on the Broncos’ taxi squad. A trade for a depth tight end would not exactly move the needle, but the Broncos have prioritized these roles. Trautman has played 48% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps this season; after returning from ankle surgery last month, Adkins has logged a 35% snap share.
Not rostering much receiving help at the position since including Noah Fant in the Russell Wilson trade, the Broncos gave Engram a two-year, $23MM deal. Two early-season injuries limited the former first-round pick, and while he has made some contributions during Denver’s five-game win streak, the eight-figure-per-year player is averaging just 8.3 yards per catch (26/215). To be fair, Engram was at just 8.4 in his 2023 Pro Bowl season in Jacksonville. But Payton had eyed the 31-year-old target as a potential field-stretching presence, his coveted “Joker” piece.
It does not, however, look like the Broncos are eyeing a player who would push Engram for time. It remains to be seen if the Broncos will make a move for receiving help — after two reports last week suggested teams had that on their radar — but some assistance is being pursued elsewhere on offense.
Bills Pursuing Trade For WR, S; Saints’ Rashid Shaheed A Possible Target?
The Bills have lost two in a row and find themselves in an unexpected fight with the Patriots for first place in the AFC East. Buffalo’s top three wideouts – Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Josh Palmer – have not been terribly productive, and as NFL.com’s Eric Edholm observes, the team has not put up more than 245 net passing yards since Week 1. As such, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports hears the Bills could be on the lookout for WR help at the trade deadline.
The fact that Brandon Beane’s trade for Amari Cooper last October did not pan out as hoped presumably will not deter the GM from exploring the receiver market again this year. Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic (subscription required) acknowledges the Saints’ Rashid Shaheed is not as clean of a schematic fit for the Bills as New Orleans teammate Chris Olave would be, but the contract-year Shaheed is a more realistic trade candidate than Olave, whom the Saints are seeking to extend (and who is unlikely to be dealt). Buscaglia names the Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers and the Ravens’ Rashod Bateman as other pass catchers Beane could consider.
Albert Breer of SI.com also identifies Shaheed as a potential target for the Bills. As an impending free agent on a losing team, the 27-year-old speedster is drawing trade interest from around the league, so Buffalo could have competition for his services. Shaheed has caught 30 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns and has averaged 14.0 yards on eight punt returns.
Las Vegas is reportedly open to trading Meyers, a 2026 free agent. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the Raiders will not simply give him away despite his expiring contract and their 2-5 record, and they will only move him if they get “strong value” in exchange. As of yet, such an offer has not been presented to Vegas brass.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) confirms the Bills are looking for a reinforcement at wide receiver, but Buffalo will have company in that regard. The Broncos and Steelers were previously named as clubs in the WR hunt, and Schefter reports Denver and Pittsburgh join the Bills as the teams that have been the most aggressive in pursuing a pass-catching upgrade.
Russini says Buffalo is looking into the safety market as well. That makes sense in light of the fact that Buffalo was recently forced to place Taylor Rapp on injured reserve, and Buscaglia suggests a reunion with cornerback (and current Dolphin) Rasul Douglas is another way the team could upgrade its pass defense.
That said, the Bills’ 31st-ranked run defense has been a more pressing issue. To that end, Buscaglia names Jets DT Harrison Phillips and Browns DT Maliek Collins as potential fits.
But, as Edholm points out, the Bills have just $2.5MM of cap space at the moment, so Beane may need to be creative as he seeks ways to upgrade his roster prior to the November 4 deadline.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s slate of games:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Taven Bryan, S Keondre Jackson
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, QB Hendon Hooker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: LB Joe Giles-Harris
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: DT Sam Kamara, QB Bailey Zappe
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Jordan Turner
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: CB Jaylin Smith
- Elevated: WR Jared Wayne
- Waived: TE Brenden Bates
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: CB Cameron Mitchell, DE Durell Nchami
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: TE Hayden Rucci, CB Kendall Sheffield
New England Patriots
- Elevated: S Richie Grant, RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Eku Leota
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: WR Darius Cooper
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: DE Trevis Gipson, OL Nick Zakelj
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: QB Connor Bazelak, OLB Mohamed Kamara
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: WR James Proche
Recently named QB2 Shedeur Sanders found his way to the injury report today with a back injury. By elevating Zappe, Cleveland is ensuring Sanders won’t play tomorrow, since in order to have three quarterbacks dressed for gameday, all three passers must be on the 53-man roster. Zappe will back up Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders will likely be in sweats. Similarly in Carolina, with Bryce Young set to sit this week, Hooker has been called up to back up Andy Dalton.
Both Buccaneers quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Teddy Bridgewater, were on the injury report this week, though neither received a “questionable” injury designation as result of their ailments. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that both passers are expected to be available, but with Bazelak taking up a spot on the active roster, it seems likely that only one other quarterback will be suited up alongside the practice squad callup. Because Bazelak’s not on the 53-man roster, only two passers can be active. Tampa Bay can still designate Bazelak as the inactive third quarterback, but doing so would seemingly be making this elevation moot.
There is no corresponding move necessary for Philadelphia to add Cooper. The team received a two-game roster exemption after signing veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, so they had an open roster spot.
For Basham in Carolina and Jennings in New England, this will be their third and final standard gameday practice squad elevations. If either of their respective teams want them to play in another game this season, they will need to first be signed to the 53-man roster.
Broncos In Market For WR Upgrade?
The Broncos just completed one of the most shocking comebacks in NFL history, reeling off a 33-point quarter to stun a Giants team that held a 19-0 lead at one point. The win moved Denver to 5-2, which remains good enough for the AFC West lead.
This franchise has not been in a strong buyer’s position ahead of a trade deadline in many years. Selling has been far more common here. Between 2018 and 2022, the Broncos unloaded Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Von Miller and Bradley Chubb at deadlines. Offers came in for Patrick Surtain and Jerry Jeudy after the team’s slow start in 2023, and while Denver was not exactly a seller last year, the team did move on from Baron Browning (to the Cardinals). This season, though, teams are monitoring the Broncos as a buyer.
Specifically, clubs have Denver on the radar to make a trade for a wide receiver upgrade, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes. Labeling the Broncos as “perhaps the biggest contender for a wide receiver” at the deadline, Jones indicates teams are looking at the division-leading team in terms of how aggressive it will be — as this is a rare spot for the Broncos.
The Broncos will attempt to hold off an increasingly high-powered Chiefs team that has won every division title since Denver’s 2015 Super Bowl season. Armed with a high-level defense once again, the Broncos will need to consider a move to bolster their offense.
Denver ranks 17th in scoring, 11th in yardage and 14th in EPA per play. The team, however, has looked sluggish (through three quarters, at least) on that side of the ball during much of its four-game win streak. It took a Herculean comeback to avoid a Giants upset, and the winless Jets held the Broncos to 13 points. The Giants rally reminded of the Broncos’ surge in Philadelphia. Bo Nix has struggled before catching fire in the fourth quarter. That would not appear sustainable, pointing to the team needing to examine need areas.
As this space mentioned this summer, the Broncos are highly Courtland Sutton-dependent at wide receiver. They have not seen a No. 2 option step up. Both Troy Franklin (269 receiving yards) and Marvin Mims (234) have produced at points, but neither is a particularly reliable target at this stage of their careers. Third-round rookie Pat Bryant has only five receptions for 46 yards, working as a clear backup. Evan Engram has not been the team’s de facto WR2 just yet, either, totaling 22 catches for 179 yards in six games played. While Sean Payton regularly centered Saints offenses around one receiver and used a rotating cast to fill out the corps, it is worth wondering if the Broncos are a man short here.
The team was loosely connected to Deebo Samuel, Cooper Kupp and Keenan Allen this offseason. Kupp exceeded Denver’s price range, while only the Commanders made an offer for Samuel. Perhaps more notably, the Broncos were eyeing Emeka Egbuka in Round 1. The Buccaneers, however, surprised many — given their WR depth at the time — by nabbing him at No. 19. Denver then drafted Jahdae Barron at No. 20.
With Nix tied to a rookie deal through at least 2026, the Broncos have some flexibility here. Though, they have just $5.1MM in cap space, with the second and final year of Russell Wilson dead money ($32MM) affecting the payroll.
Neither Chris Olave nor Rashid Shaheed were on the Saints’ roster under Payton, but Broncos senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael used a similar offense from 2022-23. Denver already dealt with New Orleans at WR this year, sending Devaughn Vele to the Saints for fourth- and seventh-round picks.
With the Raiders perhaps unwilling to send Jakobi Meyers to a division rival, Payton’s Saints ties could be notable. Though, the Saints have shown interest in extending Olave. If the Dolphins hang onto Jaylen Waddle, too, there might not be many big names that move this year at receiver. It will be interesting to see if the Broncos join the buyer fray.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/25
Here are today’s midweek minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Opened practice window: T Storm Norton
Cincinnati Bengals
- Opened practice window: DE Cedric Johnson
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Ehlinger
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: LB Zach Cunningham
Houston Texans
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jaylin Smith
Miami Dolphins
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jason Marshall
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: DT John Ridgeway
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jakorian Bennett
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated to return from IR: QB Will Howard
- Waived (with injury settlement): T Gareth Warren
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed from practice squad: DE Robert Beal Jr.
- Designated to return from IR: OL Spencer Burford
- Released: DE Trevis Gipson
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: TE Eric Saubert
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed from practice squad: G Michael Jordan
- Placed on IR: WR Mike Evans (story)
While several players were designated to return from injured reserve today, Norton and Johnson’s designations took place back on 8/26, the roster cut deadline. The Texans are in danger of being without their top three receivers in Week 8. Tank Dell is already on IR, but Nico Collins and Christian Kirk’s statuses for the weekend are up in the air as Collins deals with a concussion and Kirk has been dealing with n hamstring injury.
Not that they’ve needed him, since Aaron Rodgers has looked a bit more effective than he was in his days with the Jets, but Howard is nearing a return to the roster for the remainder of his rookie season. It will be interesting to see where the sixth-rounder slots in on the depth chart as he adds another level of security behind the 41-year-old Rodgers.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/22/25
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Zion Childress
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: WR Jalen Brooks
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Kyrese Rowan
New York Giants
- Signed: K Jude McAtamney
New York Jets
- Signed: S J.T. Woods
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Sua Opeta
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Brandon Johnson
After getting cut from the roster earlier today, McAtamney returns to his usual post on the practice squad. No corresponding move is necessary to make room for him on the practice squad, since McAtamney hails from Northern Ireland and qualifies for the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and doesn’t count against the 16-man limit.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Raiqwon O’Neal
- Placed on IR: OL Ryan Hayes
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Jeremiah Moon
- Released: CB Keion Crossen, OT Michael Tarquin
Chicago Bears
- Released: DL Tanoh Kpassagnon
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL Marques Cox
- Released: OL Karsen Barnhart
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Ty Summers
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Seth Coleman
- Released: CB Keenan Garber
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Trayveon Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Audric Estime
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Elijah Garcia
New York Jets
- Signed: DT Fatorma Mulbah
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: TE Jaheim Bell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: QB Logan Woodside
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Stone Blanton, TE Brayden Willis
- Released: TE Messiah Swinson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE David Ebuka Agoha, LB Ochaun Mathis
- Released: LB Curtis Jacobs
Broncos LB Dre Greenlaw Suspended One Game
OCTOBER 21: Greenlaw’s suspension has been upheld on appeal, per NFL Senior VP of Football & International Communications Michael Signora. The Broncos linebacker will officially be sitting out Sunday’s matchup with the Cowboys.
OCTOBER 20: Dre Greenlaw has been hit with a one-game ban. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Broncos linebacker has been suspended one game without pay for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Per the NFL’s release (via Josina Anderson), Greenlaw “chased after referee Brad Allen and verbally threatened him as he tried to leave the field.” The league cited Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(b), which prohibits “the use of abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League.” It’s uncertain what sparked Greenlaw’s outburst, but NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo suspects it may have stemmed from the pass-interference penalty on a previous drive that ultimately got head coach Sean Payton flagged for arguing.
Garafolo notes that Greenlaw has three days to appeal his suspension. If it’s upheld, the linebacker will be forced to miss this Sunday’s matchup with the Cowboys.
It’s not ideal timing for the veteran, who was just making his Broncos debut after sitting out the first month-plus of the season while recovering from a quad injury. He ended up getting into about a quarter of his team’s defensive snaps yesterday, finishing with six total tackles and a QB hit. Greenlaw joined the Broncos on a three-year, $35MM deal after spending the first six seasons of his career with the 49ers. Injuries wiped out his 2021 and 2024 seasons, but he compiled a total of 247 tackles between 2022 and 2023.
Alex Singleton has yet to miss a defensive snap for the Broncos this season and will continue anchoring the linebackers room, but the team will have to get a bit creative with Greenlaw out for Week 8. Justin Strnad stepped up while his teammate was sidelined with an injury, and the former fifth-round pick will likely continue seeing a healthy dose of snaps against Dallas. Rookie Que Robinson has also seen an uptick in playing time since making his NFL debut in Week 6.
Giants Not Considering Coaching Changes
Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is under fire after his unit allowed 33 points in the fourth quarter to blow a 19-point lead in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
Star edge rusher Brian Burns expressed his frustration with Bowen’s late-game play-calling as he walked into the locker room (via Bleacher Report’s James Palmer), and New York’s defense as a whole has struggled in their first seven games this season. The Giants are among the bottom 10 teams in points, yards, and yards per play allowed, with plenty of trouble against the run and the pass.
However, head coach Brian Daboll said on Monday (via The Athletic’s Charlotte Carroll) that he is not considering any immediate changes to his coaching staff and plans to keep play-calling duties with his coordinators.
“We all got to do a better job,” Daboll said. “Starts with me, and there’s plenty of opportunities to finish that game the way we wanted to. We didn’t get the job done.”
Both Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen were thought to be on the hot seat entering the 2025 season, but the emergence of rookie Jaxson Dart as a potential franchise quarterback may give them a longer leash. The Giants’ ownership (and fans) may still demand accountability if they have a third-straight losing season, especially if their final record resembles last year’s 3-14 debacle. The offense has improved, but the defense seems to have regressed. If that continues, it could be Bowen who finds himself out of a job in 2026, but he is safe for now.