BY: DM
Published 2 weeks ago
The Las Vegas Raiders have parted ways with star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins following an unusual locker room incident. According to an ESPN report by Adam Schefter, Wilkins “playfully went to kiss a teammate on top of his head” during a team meeting, but the teammate did not receive it well.
However, tensions involving Wilkins had been building for some time. His standing with the Raiders had already been deteriorating due to a major injury and subsequent rehab dispute. The 29-year-old lineman suffered a foot injury five games into the 2024 season, requiring surgery. According to CBS Sports, Raiders medical staff recommended a second surgery earlier this year when Wilkins’ recovery did not progress as hoped, but Wilkins balked at undergoing the additional procedure.
Now, all eyes are on the kissing scandal that rocked the Raiders locker room. Reports suggest that the Raiders acted quickly. However, some say Wilkins’ alleged behavior has been a problem for years.
Christian Wilkins was accused of kissing his teammate.
Wilkins has been axed after forcibly kissing another Raiders player in the locker room. No public video of the incident has surfaced, but news of the bizarre encounter spread quickly through sports media. An unnamed source inside the Raiders’ facility described the kiss as a “playful” gesture that the teammate did not welcome, ESPN noted. The offended player filed a complaint with the Raiders’ human resources department, which opened an internal investigation. The team swiftly informed Wilkins of his release on July 24.
“This franchise has a commitment to excellence on and off the field. With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for a new season,” the team said in a statement to ESPN.
The Raiders organization did not initially mention the kiss in official statements. However, multiple outlets confirmed the HR complaint and its role in Wilkins’ departure. Meanwhile, many observers expressed surprise that a locker-room prank escalated to a dismissal. “It seems like an extreme reaction to being kissed on the head,” wrote NBC Sports analyst Mike Florio, who speculated there may be more to the story from the teammate’s perspective.
Christian Wilkins is no stranger to weird controversies.
Wilkins’ release means he will forfeit roughly $35 million that remained on his contract, pending the outcome of the grievance. The Raiders had already paid him approximately $49.7 million for one season of service, including his signing bonus and 2024 salary, per Outkick. By cutting him now as a “terminated vested veteran,” the club avoids any future salary cap hit from his deal.
Unfortunately, Wilkins has faced controversy before. During the 2022 season with the Miami Dolphins, Wilkins was fined $13,261 by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct after Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen accused him of grabbing Allen’s groin at the bottom of a pile, the NFL reports. In the 2016 Fiesta Bowl, television cameras caught Wilkins reaching between the legs of an opposing Ohio State player after a play — a move Wilkins apologized for at the time.
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