The Las Vegas Raiders are done with defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.
The Raiders announced on Thursday that they released the veteran defender, who inked a four-year, $110 million deal with the team last offseason before playing in just five games due to a Jones fracture.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Raiders cut ties with Wilkins over a disagreement in his rehab process for the injury. Before OTAs began, the Raiders wanted Wilkins to get a second surgery after he suffered a setback, but Wilkins was not on board with that approach.
The Raiders have voided the remaining $35.2 million in guaranteed money on his contract, and Wilkins plans to fight that via a grievance with the NFLPA, as expected.
Just days before training camp, a video of Wilkins dancing in the weight room surfaced on social media. That video has since gone viral.
🚨‼️Raiders star Defensive Tackle Christian Wilkins is out of his boot and is dancing around the weight room a couple days before the start of training camp pic.twitter.com/By02QhbROs
— ShifftttyyyQB1🏴☠️ (@raiders1022) July 21, 2025
In five games for the Raiders last season, Wilkins tallied two sacks and two tackles for loss.
The Raiders hoped to get Wilkins back healthy, along with edge rusher Malcolm Koonce, which could’ve given Las Vegas an elite defensive line when combined with Maxx Crosby.
However, now the Raiders will have to replace Wilkins and won’t get the trio they were hoping for.
Leki Fotu, Jonah Laulu and rookie Tonka Hemingway all get a bump up the depth chart with Wilkins gone, although it remains to be seen who will ultimately grab Wilkins’ job out of training camp. Tyree Wilson could also be a candidate after bouncing inside over the past few years.
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