With the start of the new league year less than a week away, the Tennesse Titans have decided to part with two of their more notable veteran players. The team announced Thursday that they have released running back Dion Lewis and outside linebacker Cameron Wake. The move saves them nearly $10 million in cap space which will be useful with the looming contracts of Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry.
Once one of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL during his prime with the Miami Dolphins, Cameron Wake spent a good chunk of his 2019-20 season banged up. Wake only played in nine games for Tennessee last year, compiling 2.5 sacks and five total tackles. Wake would’ve been heading into his 12th year as a pro and second as a Titan but will now look for a home elsewhere in free agency.
For Dion Lewis, the past two seasons have been a mixed bag. Lewis was Tennessee’s starting back for nearly half of the 2018-19 NFL season and held down a larger workload than Derrick Henry. However, last season was a different story and rightfully so.
The Titans finally allowed Henry to handle a full helping of carries and he took the opportunity and ran with it. Henry led the NFL in rushing yards last season and established himself as one of the premier running backs in the entire league. Lewis started only one game and ran the ball 54 times for 209 yards on the season.
Though Lewis should be able to find a gig elsewhere as a serviceable third-down back, it may be tougher for Cameron Wake to find a landing spot. Pass rushers don’t tend to age well, especially those dependent on their physical tools such as Wake. Regardless, Wake could still get a one-year deal if he proves he can stay healthy while Lewis should be able to find a role as a receiving threat out of the backfield. Free agency is set to kick off March 18.
