The Raiders made a surprising move by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins on Thursday, and it wasn’t just due to his ongoing leg injury. Reports suggest that this decision stemmed from an incident where he jokingly attempted to kiss a teammate, which created some buzz within the locker room.
On “The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter mentioned that people in the Raiders’ locker room are walking on eggshells regarding the situation. Apparently, Wilkins playfully went for a kiss on the head of one of his teammates, causing quite the stir.
Wilkins had signed a lucrative four-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders, of which $82.75 million was guaranteed. However, he was designated as “terminated Veteran” in his release, primarily due to complications in the rehabilitation process of a Jones fracture he sustained last October, as noted by NFL insider Jocina Anderson.
“From talking to people in the Raiders locker room… They say Christian Wilkins playfully went to kiss his top-notch teammate on his head. They say the player attacked it, and that’s what everyone is dancing.”
A source close to the league indicated to Anderson that this was taken lightly and was just Wilkins being silly.
The Raiders reportedly voided the remaining $35.2 million guaranteed in Wilkins’ contract due to how he managed his rehabilitation.
On Thursday, the NFLPA filed a complaint on Wilkins’ behalf. In a statement about his release, the Raiders emphasized their commitment to excellence off the field, stating that without a clear plan for Wilkins’ future with the team, releasing him was necessary for progress as they prepare for the upcoming season.
As for the locker room incident—how serious was it? The Raiders haven’t delved into that just yet. Wilkins hasn’t been officially reviewed since he signed with them in 2024.
Head coach Pete Carroll mentioned on Friday that they take their time to make decisions about players like Wilkins. He expressed that the organization had to move on, given that there was no clear path forward. “This place is about competition,” Carroll stated. “It’s always been. We’re mixing starters and backups to gather as much information as we can.”
The Raiders are slated to kick off their 2025 season against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 7th.
