The oldest player on the Broncos is 33, but that could be topped by a lot.

On Tuesday, Denver held a tryout for Marcedes Lewis, 41, a 19-year NFL veteran.

Lewis last played for the Chicago Bears in 2024, getting into all 17 games but catching just one pass for 2 yards. Lewis, who has been well regarded for his blocking, did make the Pro Bowl with Jacksonville in 2010.

With Nate Adkins having suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s 44-24 win over Dallas, the Broncos have just two healthy tight ends on the active roster in starter Evan Engram and Adam Trautman.

The Broncos put in waiver claims Monday for tight end Brendan Bates and tight end Ben Sims. However, Cleveland was awarded Bates and Minnesota got Sims. Both teams have worse records than Denver’s 6-2, so they were higher in the claiming order.

It is uncertain how long Adkins will be out, but he might miss Sunday’s game at Houston.

The Denver Gazette reported that Lucas Krull, who has missed the past four games while on injured reserve, had surgery on his left foot Monday and that he will be out about another eight weeks. There had been a hope that Krull, who was hurt in an Oct. 2 practice, might be back after missing the minimum of four games on injured reserve or perhaps not many more than four.

The Broncos have two tight ends on the practice squad, but rookie Caleb Lohner and Patrick Murtaugh are both raw. Lohner, who played football for Utah last season after being only a basketball player throughout high school and college, was taken in the seventh round in April. Murtaugh, a native of Australia, is on the practice squad due to being an international player who doesn’t count against the roster limit.

Lewis still wants to play in the NFL after being with Jacksonville from 2006-17, Green Bay from 2018-22 and the Bears the past two seasons. During his 2010 Pro Bowl season with the Jaguars, he had career highs of 58 catches and 700 receiving yards. He has career totals of 437 receptions and 5,115 yards.

The Broncos have an opening on the practice squad that could be used for Lewis. If he is signed, he easily would be the oldest player on their practice field, eight years older than tackle Garett Bolles, 33.

Greenlaw back, Ehlinger back soon

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is back with the Broncos and quarterback Sam Ehlinger soon will be back.

Greenlaw, who was suspended by the NFL for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct, was moved Tuesday from the suspended list back to the 53-man roster. To create room, the Broncos released quarterback Sam Ehlinger but a source said he plans to re-sign Wednesday to the practice squad.

The Broncos also released from the practice squad outside linebacker Garrett Nelson and wide receiver Samori Toure. So Ehlinger’s signing would leave them with one additional open spot.

Green was suspended for going after referee Brad Allen and verbally threatening him on the field following Denver’s 33-32 win over the New York Giants on Oct. 19. He was reinstated by the league Monday and the Broncos had a roster exemption until Tuesday.

Ehlinger is a vested veteran who doesn’t have to go through waivers and has wanted to remain with the Broncos, whether it is on the active roster or practice squad. He was on the practice squad until being signed to the 53-man roster Sept. 6. He was released Oct. 17 and re-signed to the practice squad Oct. 18. Then he was signed back to the 53-man roster last Wednesday.

The Broncos want Ehlinger to continue to get full game checks, so he is a candidate to be elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Texans. He can be elevated up to three times this season by the Broncos. They haven’t needed to use one yet this season since Ehlinger has gotten a full game check for each of the first eight weeks.

Surtain not shelved Tuesday

Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain II, who suffered a strained left pectoral muscle against the Cowboys, was not placed Tuesday on injured reserve.

A source said Monday that Surtain will miss “some time” with the injury and he is not expected to play against the Texans. For now, the Broncos consider him “week to week.”

Players on injured reserve must miss at least four games. If the Broncos want to shelve Surtain and have Houston be his first game missed, they would need to place him on injured reserve by Saturday. If Surtain were to be put on injured reserve, he would need to be out five weeks since the Broncos have a bye week after playing Houston, Las Vegas at home Nov. 6 at home and Kansas City at home Nov. 16 and before they play at Washington on Nov. 30.