JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jaguars released veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis on Tuesday.
The move was somewhat surprising as the Jaguars picked up the veteran's contract option for this season just a few weeks ago.
Lewis was the team's longest-tenured player. The Jaguars selected Lewis with a first-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.
The Jaguars signed free-agent tight ends Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Niles Paul last week. Those acquisitions could have led to the Jaguars' desire to free up some of the $3.75 million in cap space attached to Lewis' option.
The Jaguars saved $3.5 million in cap space by releasing Lewis, while taking on $250,000 in dead money from the tight end's option bonus.
Lewis, 33, appeared in 170 games for the Jaguars and produced 375 catches for 4,502 yards and 33 touchdowns in 12 seasons with the team.
The tight end caught 24 passes for 318 yards and five touchdowns in 2017.
Lewis owns the franchise records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by a tight end.
Jacksonville will now move forward with Seferian-Jenkins, Paul, James O'Shaughnessy, Ben Koyack and David Grinnage at tight end. The Jaguars are also likely to target a tight end early in April's NFL Draft.
The Jaguars also released veteran wide receiver Allen Hurns.
Follow Mike Kaye on Twitter at @Mike_E_Kaye.