Ex Packers Veteran TE Not Thinking of Retirement

The list of tight ends who have played into their late 30s is sparse, but a handful have joined Marcedes Lewis in logging an age-38 season. Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, and Jackie Smith have all done so. Only Ben Watson has embarked on a campaign at the age of 39.

Lewis, who turned 39 last month, is hoping to join Watson while also setting a tight end record. Watson played in 16 seasons before retiring at the age of 39. Only Lewis, Witten, and Tony Gonzalez have reached 17. Lewis will seek to go into unknown territory by playing an 18th hole.

The former Jaguars and Packers tight end has stated that he has had discussions with numerous organizations this summer. The 39-year-old free agent tight end told the Associated Press that he hopes to play for a team in 2023 and that his agency is talking to organizations to get him an opportunity.

He said that his talent has “no decline” and that he is ‘the best blocking tight end out there’. “I get the business side of it,” Lewis said. “My agent is in talks with a handful of teams, but it’s just small talk. I guess teams are trying to figure out their rosters and what they need”.

“But if you just look at my film from the last three years, there’s no decline in what I’m able to do. I’m the best blocking tight end out there.”

The Packers kept Lewis on their roster for the previous four seasons, relying on his blocking ability. Green Bay has now moved on from some of its veterans, and the Packers utilized two Day 2 selections (second-rounder Luke Musgrave and third-rounder Tucker Kraft) at the position.

The Jets are the obvious team for the former Jaguars first-round pick. Aaron Rodgers is said to have put the four-year Packers player on his Jets want list. Given the additions of Cobb, Lazard, and Billy Turner to the squad, it would not be surprising if Lewis became another ex-Nathaniel Hackett Green Bay charge to travel to New York.

Lewis, who signed three Packers contracts from 2019 to 2022, completed a two-year, $5.92MM agreement last season. Lewis, the Pack’s primary blocking tight end, started 17 games and played 451 offensive snaps, trailing just Gonzalez (254) and Witten (252) among tight ends.

Lewis, who has only missed one game in the last six seasons, has played between 400 and 500 snaps in each of his four games with the Packers. The 6-foot-6 veteran was rated the fifth-best run-blocking tight end in 2022 by Pro Football Focus.