HOUSTON — After becoming Sunday the oldest player in Broncos history, tight end Marcedes Lewis was simply happy to have earned another day in the NFL.

Lewis, 41 and in his 20^th NFL season, was signed last Wednesday to Denver’s practice squad. He was elevated Saturday to the active roster and got in on the Broncos’ first series in an 18-15 win over the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

“It feels amazing,’’ Lewis told The Denver Gazette. “It’s special and I don’t take it for granted. If I’m not giving my absolute best at whatever I’m doing on that day, I can’t renew my contract for the next day.”

Consider Lewis’ deal renewed. He figures to play again Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High.

Lewis broke the regular-season record set by quarterback Craig Morton, who was 39 years, 9 months, 16 days when he played in his final NFL game as a backup in a 17-10 loss to Seattle on Nov. 21, 1982. When postseason play is considered, Lewis broke the mark set by quarterback Peyton Manning, who was 39 years, 10 months, 14 days when he concluded his career by helping the Broncos to a 24-10 win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7, 2016.

Before coming to Denver, Lewis played for Jacksonville from 2006-17, Green Bay from 2018-22 and Chicago the previous two seasons. He made the Pro Bowl for the Jaguars in 2010 when he had career highs of 48 receptions and 700 yards. But in recent years, he has concentrated on being a blocking specialist.

“Obviously, finishing my 19^th season, I had aspirations of getting 20,’’ said Lewis, who wasn’t with an NFL team this season before joining the Broncos. “Obviously, the beginning of this year didn’t go as planned and I couldn’t get into (a training) camp. It wasn’t a situation that I really wanted, as far as teams that were hitting my agent up, so I decided to wait it out. Being here (with Denver) is something special.”

Lewis was signed after the Broncos’ third tight end Nate Adkins suffered a knee injury Oct. 26 against Dallas. Adkins is not expected to be back in time to face the Raiders.

Overcoming injuries

The Broncos won Sunday despite being as depleted as they have been all season.

Denver on Friday had ruled out star cornerback Pat Surtain II (pectoral), wide receiver-returner Marvin Mims Jr. (concussion), Adkins, and reserve safety P.J. Locke (neck). All were inactive Sunday, along with running back Jaleel McLaughlin and defensive linemen Jordan Jackson and Sai’vion Jones.

“Up to (now), we have been fairly fortunate and when you’re turning in the Defensive Player of the Year (from 2024 in Surtain), it’s hard to hit send,’’ said Broncos coach Sean Payton. “It’s difficult when you lose someone like (Surtain) and you lose a guy like Mims and you sit there Wednesday night and you’re like, ‘Holy cow.’’’

Payton, though, said it “was big” in how players stepped up Sunday to replace those who had been ruled out. Jahdae Barron started in place of Surtain but the Broncos also used Ja’Quan McMillian and Kris Abrams-Draine in that role. Abrams-Draine played a good bit of snaps.

With Mims out, Patrick Bryant moved from No. 4 to No. 3 receiver and had two catches for 20 yards. Michael Bandy, elevated from the practice squad Saturday, replaced Mims on punt returns and had four for 30 yards, but he lost a muffed punt in the final minute of the second quarter.

At least the Broncos had tackle Alex Palczewski in the lineup. He was listed as questionable Saturday due to an illness but started and played throughout the game.

Special teams woes

Bandy’s miscue led to a 40-yard field goal by the Texans’ Ka’imi Fairbairn on the final play of the first half and was one of several mistakes the Broncos had on special teams.

Denver also had a 51-yard field-goal attempt in the first quarter blocked by Denico Autry. And Houston’s Jaylin Noel had a 45-yard punt return in the third quarter.

“We’ll look at that on film,’’ Payton said of the block. “My concern was just the late subs. It was a little bit sloppy. The kicking game, we’ll get that cleaned up or we’ll find someone else that can do it (from a blocking standpoint).”

Concern for Stroud

There was plenty of concern after the game about Houston having lost quarterback C.J. Stroud early in the second quarter with a concussion.

Stroud was hit by Abrams-Draine when he slid for a 6-yard run with 13:43 left in the first half. A flag was thrown but it was picked up after it was determined that a replay showed Abrams-Draine had hit Stroud in the shoulder, not in the head or next area. Davis Mills replaced Stroud for the rest of the game and was largely ineffective.

“I just hope he’s OK,’’ said Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who played with Stroud at Ohio State and is good friends with him. “I’m praying for him to make sure he’s OK.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans called it “tough” to lose Stroud. He said the penalty on Abrams-Draine should have stood.

“He slid and the guy came up and hit him,’’ Ryans said. “As I see it, it’s unnecessary roughness when you hit the quarterback when he’s sliding and giving himself up. … We’ve seen that happen multiple times with our guys and we get the penalty. But, for some reason, it just didn’t happen there.”

Briefly

Payton said the Broncos “controlled the line of scrimmage” and had “a big advantage” over Houston’s offensive line. The Broncos had four sacks to raise their NFL-leading total to 40. … Bandy had one catch for 16 yards. He appeared in his first NFL game since 2023 and had his first catch since 2022. … Denver rookie Jeremy Crawshaw averaged 53.5 yards gross on his eight punts, his best single-game average, and had a season-best 76-yard boot, although it went for a touchback.