Turron DavenportESPN
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After being frustrated with a limited role with the Tennessee Titans, outside linebacker Kamalei Correa has requested a trade. Titans coach Mike Vrabel said the team will honor Correa’s request for a new start somewhere else.
“Jon and I have both spoken to Kamalei and told him that he would be released. Something may change if a team reaches out, but as of now we will plan to go in another direction moving on,” Vrabel said.
Last year after Tennessee’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, Vrabel had identified Correa as one of the players who exemplifies how he wants guys to play with outstanding effort. So far this season, Correa has played 38 snaps on defense (14%) and 23 special-teams snaps in three games.
The Titans placed Correa on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Sep. 30 and removed him from the list Tuesday.
The Titans suited up only three outside linebackers in their 42-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday night. But the expected return of second-year outside linebacker Derick Roberson makes the staff believe they have enough depth on their roster to move on from Correa.
When Roberson returns, he’ll join the Titans’ rotation at outside linebacker that already includes Vic Beasley Jr., Harold Landry and Jadeveon Clowney.
Tennessee signed Correa to a one-year, $2.5 million deal in April. Correa, a 2016 second-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens, was acquired by the Titans in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2019 draft.
Correa finished with five sacks during the regular season last year and added two more in the postseason. He was hoping to have continued success this year even though he knew he had to earn his spot once again after the team signed Beasley to a one-year $9.5 million deal.
“I’m not expecting anything because nothing’s handed to you. You got to go out there. You got to earn it each and every day at practice, each and every week at the game,” Correa said in August.
During training camp, Correa worked primarily with the first-team defense while Beasley was on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Correa’s role decreased once Tennessee signed Clowney in September.
