Earlier than the 2024 NFL season the Las Vegas Raiders signed defensive lineman Christian Wilkins to a four-year, $110M contract in free company to make him a key a part of their defensive position.
On Thursday, only one yr later, the Raiders are releasing him.
Additionally it is a state of affairs that’s prone to get messy within the coming weeks attributable to a grievance that Wilkins has filed with the NFLPA.
On the middle of his launch — and grievance — is Wilkins’ rehab from a foot harm that minimize quick his 2024 season after simply 5 video games.
The Raiders wished Wilkins to right the problem with surgical procedure. Wilkins opted to not have the surgical procedure, and because the rehab continued to tug on, there was uncertainty of when he would be capable to get again on the sector.
As just lately as Tuesday Raiders head coach Pete Carroll stated there was no definitive timeline on when that might be.
Simply 48 hours later, Wilkins was launched, with the Raiders trying to void the remaining $35.2M in ensures that he was owed on his contract.
Wilkins spent the primary 5 yr of his profession with the Miami Dolphins, and turned a career-year efficiency in 2023 right into a big-ticket free company contract with the Raiders. The hope was that he might type a dominant 1-2 punch with Maxx Crosby, and for the 5 video games he performed he confirmed the power to do this.
He was simply by no means wholesome sufficient to proceed the remainder of the season. Now Las Vegas goes to be left asking what might have been, whereas Wilkins tries to get the cash he believes he’s owed.
Wilkins will flip 30 in December, and if anybody is assured in his potential to come back again from the harm, he might nonetheless land on a brand new staff and doubtlessly play a giant function.
