Christian Wilkins Intends to Play 2026 NFL Season Amid Injury Rehab, Latest Update on Interest in FA

Free-agent defensive tackle Christian Wilkins intends to play during the 2026 season while recovering from a foot injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Wilkins suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot early in his 2024 campaign.

26 teams have reached out to him this offseason and are waiting for him "to be ready," per Schefter. Wilkins is expected to find a new landing spot as soon as he wants.

The 30-year-old was released by the Las Vegas Raiders with the designation of terminated vested veteran in July 2025.

At the time, Schefter reported that Las Vegas released him and voided the remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money left on his contract "due to how Wilkins treated the rehab from his foot injury he suffered last season."

Wilkins later filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association.

The 30-year-old initially signed a four-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders during the 2024 offseason.

Schefter also reported Wilkins' release came after an incident in which he "playfully went to kiss a teammate" on top of his head and the teammate took offense to the act.

The former Clemson standout spent the first five years of his career with the Miami Dolphins after he was selected with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

Wilkins amassed 355 tackles and 43 tackles for loss to go along with 20.5 sacks during his tenure in Miami, including a career-high nine sacks during his 2023 campaign.

He recorded 17 tackles and two sacks across five appearances with the Raiders before suffering the foot injury.