Since Christian Wilkins was cut by the Raiders last week, we’ve heard a handful of explanations for the sudden divorce. Primarily, there was an apparent disagreement over the player’s handling and/or recovery from a foot injury. Later, we heard reports of a locker room incident where Wilkins reportedly kissed a teammate on the head, leading to an HR complaint.
[RELATED: Incident With Raiders Teammate May Have Triggered Christian Wilkins’ Release]
Now, we’re hearing that Wilkins may have been cut because of an entirely different foot injury than the Jones fracture that ended his 2024 campaign prematurely. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the defensive tackle suffered another injury in the same foot that delayed his return to the field. That second injury has left Wilkins in a boot for months, but despite doctors’ suggestions that he should go under the knife, Wilkins has refused surgery.
That disagreement ultimately led to the deterioration of the relationship between the two sides. It’s uncertain how any suitors will handle this new injury, and Breer suggests that Wilkins could simply find a doctor who clears him to play football. The player could also stick it to his former club and undergo surgery after inking a contract, although that would mean his new team wouldn’t get his on-field production until at least the second half of the 2025 campaign.
Then, there’s the bizarre kissing incident. While this may seem innocuous on the surface, the Raiders may cite that incident as a reason for their decision to void Wilkins’ guaranteed money. As a source told Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Raiders could point to a “pattern of conduct” that culminated in this locker room ordeal. The writer also notes that Wilkins wasn’t cut with an injury designation despite being on the physically unable to perform list. That decision could point to the release being more about conduct than any injury.
Either way, Bonsignore expects Wilkins’ grievance to be a lengthy process, with the writer wondering if the dispute may not be resolved until next spring. The timing is of some importance to the Raiders. As Bonsignore notes, the Raiders will be slapped with a cap hold worth 40 percent of the “amount being grieved,” which comes out around $14.8MM. If the matter isn’t resolved until the spring, the Raiders may have to carry that cap hit into next year’s free agency.
If the Raiders did truly move on from Wilkins for conduct, it might not come as a surprise to some. According to Armando Salguero of Outkick.com, the player’s “unserious” approach to the game dates back to his time at Clemson, when he reportedly use to “grab opponents” in “private areas.” One scout once described the player as “irreverent,” and Salguero opines that the Raiders surely knew of his reputation when they handed him a lucrative contract last offseason.
Regardless of the reason for the release, Wilkins is now definitively out of Las Vegas and is seeking his next team. One team that won’t be involved in the bidding is the Giants, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. While the organization pursued him hard via free agency in 2024, Duggan says there’s too much to unpack with “health, finances and whatever else is going on.” Meanwhile, the Patriots could have some interest in the defender, as Mike Vrabel told reporters that the organization will “have a conversation” about pursuing the free agent (per Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston).