Raiders release Christian Wilkins citing 'no clear path or plan' to return

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (94) talks with reporters during Raiders’ mandatory mini camp at the Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo by: Steve Marcus

As much as everything feels new with the Raiders as they begin training camp for the upcoming season this week, some elements remain the same.

Another off-the-field sideshow has commenced after only two practices. The Raiders announced this afternoon that they have dropped defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who came into the new league year as the highest-paid player on the team.

Contracts for edge rusher Maxx Crosby and quarterback Geno Smith eventually surpassed Wilkins’ $29 million salary for this season, but now that money is off the books — at least in the Raiders’ minds.

The organization, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, voided the remaining money on Wilkins’ deal because of the way he rehabbed the Jones fracture in his left foot suffered in Week 5 of last season.    

Wilkins played only five games on the 4-year, $110 million deal he signed with the Raiders last offseason before the injury prevented him from returning last season. New Raiders coach Pete Carroll had described Wilkins’ recovery as, “long and challenging.”

The team put him on the physically unable to perform list heading into training camp, though there were reports of him working out without a walking boot for the first time in nine months.

That wasn’t enough, or the progress was misleading, with a statement issued by the Raiders Thursday declaring, “no clear path or plan for future return to play for Christian.”

“This transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for the new season,” the statement continued.

Wilkins reportedly filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association over the $35.2 million in guaranteed money left on the contract he signed a year ago.  

The disagreement between the defensive tackle and the Raiders appears to come down to treatment options. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Wilkins, “declined (surgery) after several opinions.”

These types of tiffs and controversies have been commonplace with the Raiders ever since they moved to Las Vegas ahead of the 2020 season. But the organization spent much of this offseason trying to move past that reputation.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady became a minority owner and de facto president of football operations, helping hire Carroll and new general manager John Spytek.  

The new power trio now has their first major ordeal to navigate away from the field.

From a football perspective, the Raiders seemed to be operating all offseason with the presumption that Wilkins would miss at least some more time.

A competition to fill the interior defensive line spot Wilkins was expected to hold has been one of the early storylines of training camp. Whoever wins the job will now no longer have to worry about Wilkins returning to reclaim his position.