The Raiders shocked the football universe on Thursday with the announcement that they are “moving on” from star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
After months of complications around the foot injury that ended his 2024 season, the team said in a statement on Thursday that Wilkins had “no clear path or plan for future return” to the field.
And according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the squabble between Wilkins and the team began no later than the start of OTAs on May 19.
“The Raiders voided the remaining $35.2 million in guaranteed money on [Wilkins’] contract, citing a disagreement over how he handled the rehab process from the surgery he had in October to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot,” Russini reported on Thursday.
“The typical timeline for recovery from a Jones fracture is three to four months, but Wilkins still wasn’t able to practice when the Raiders began OTAs in May. That was a clear sign something had gone awry in his recovery process,” Russini continued. “And when the Raiders placed him on the physically unable to perform list last week, it confirmed he still wasn’t ready to go for the start of training camp. He missed the Raiders’ training camp practices Wednesday and Thursday before getting released.”
“Before OTAs began, the Raiders informed Wilkins that he needed a second surgery on his foot, according to a league source. Wilkins disagreed and didn’t get the procedure, a league source said. That sparked a back-and-forth over the last few months that led to the Raiders ultimately deciding to move on from Wilkins.”
There are still a lot of unknowns about how Wilkins re-injured his foot and what led the team to wait until July 24 to release him, but there are already rumblings and a few reasons to believe Wilkins is going to have an uphill battle in his efforts to recoup his money.
Following his official release, Wilkins is free to sign with any team, but based on Thursday’s statement from the Raiders, it doesn’t sound like he’s going to be healthy enough to play anytime soon.
Among the teams that are expected to be interested in Wilkins are the New England Patriots…
x: @raidersbeat
Just saw the video of Christian dancing around in the weight room with boot off a day before camp started. Uh oh, he may have a problem trying to recoup the rest of his contract that the Raiders voided. That video probably was the last straw with this turd. Doctors wanted him to get another procedure and so did the Raiders. Good bye looser. You made 50 million for playing only 5 games. Complete bum!!!😡😤🤬😖😣😠👿😣
Never fails Raiders pick these bums up pay big money get no production rinse, repeat. We will see what happens with Geno Smith. Need to build through the draft.
We still haven’t heard Wilkins’ side of all this, which is important. It’s not uncommon for teams and players to have disagreements over injuries, but usually the player presents some type of counter plan to the team’s plan. If Wilkins had some that, it doesn’t seem to have been reported. So, if you’re the team, you have a player who can’t play, who is resisting your doctors’ recommendations, and then doesn’t seem to have any plan of his own other than rest and collect a paycheck, I think that “no path” wording is pretty intentional. OK, you don’t want the surgery, what else can we do to get you on the field. The answers from Wilkins must not have been satisfactory.
I could care less about Mark Davis’ wallet, but if it helps the Raiders cap situation, this could be a bit of a blessing. Wilkins was never going to live up to that contract
Dan H, enough with a 20 paragraph answer. Bottom line watch the raiders weight room video dance then go to the celebrity golf tournament with him INJURED walking around. Case closed he’s so freaking done. Good luck on collecting another freaking penny. Raiders have the BEST lawyers. Go to New England where you belong looser.