Christian Wilkins Cut by Raiders, DT Reportedly Files Contract Grievance Amid Injury

Christian Wilkins' time with the Las Vegas Raiders is over, but he and the team could be facing a contract battle in the immediate future.

The Raiders confirmed Thursday that they have released the defensive tackle with the designation of terminated vested veteran.

ESPN's Adam Schefter initially reported the news.

"Due to how Wilkins treated the rehab from his foot injury he suffered last season, the Raiders voided the remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money left on Wilkins contract last month and today, Wilkins filed a grievance with the NFLPA," Schefter reported.

According to ESPN's Ryan McFadden, "The belief was that Wilkins needed another surgery on his foot; he balked at getting it, sources told ESPN. The Raiders then voided the guaranteed money left on his deal due to 'failure to maintain his physical condition to play.'"

The next step for Wilkins "will be taking visits and undergoing physicals with potential suitors," per The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

One head coach told Russini: “He’s not healthy enough to play for the Raiders… Something must not be right”

The Clemson product suffered a foot injury in Week 5 of the 2024 campaign and did not return in his first and now only season with the team.

Las Vegas also placed him on the physically unable to perform list Friday, and head coach Pete Carroll provided an update in May.

"Every day he's here early, working hard, but we're still working," Carroll said. "He's not ready to get back out. We're in the midst of a long, challenging process. Fortunately, there's a lot of time, and we're going to take every bit of it. We've really tried to be really diligent in the way we've worked it and the way we've wanted it and all that, and he's been on board the whole time. But it has been challenging."

The head coach again addressed the situation Tuesday when he told reporters, "It's still uncertain. We sort of have to wait it out."

This surely isn't what either side had in mind when Wilkins and the Raiders agreed to a four-year, $110 million contract ahead of the 2024 campaign.

After all, he was durable with the Miami Dolphins and appeared in all 17 games in three straight seasons from 2021 through 2023. He notched a career-best nine sacks in his last year with Miami and was a highly sought after free agent before choosing Las Vegas.

Wilkins was expected to anchor the defensive line alongside Maxx Crosby and take advantage of the additional rushing space when opposing offensive lines double teamed the edge-rusher. 

Instead, it will be up to the likes of Leki Fotu, Adam Butler, Tonka Hemingway and Jonah Laulu at defensive tackle for the Raiders after the team moved on from Wilkins.

His time with Las Vegas may be over, but the situation isn't after he filed the grievance.