Teammate of Raiders lodges protest against Christian Wilkins' attempt at kissing
Raiders' Decision to Release Christian Wilkins Sparks Grievance
Christian Wilkins, the defensive tackle who was recently released by the Las Vegas Raiders, has filed a grievance through the NFL Players Association contesting the team's decision to void the remaining $35.25 million in guaranteed salary. The grievance, filed on July 24, 2025, centers around a disagreement over Wilkins' best course of treatment for a surgically repaired foot and an alleged locker room incident.
The Raiders terminated Wilkins' contract, citing his refusal to follow their recommended surgery and recovery plan for a Jones fracture in his foot, and questioning his compliance with team standards following the incident. However, Wilkins disputes the voiding of his guaranteed money, arguing he earned it despite playing only five games for the Raiders.
The team has 10 days to respond to the grievance. This dispute is governed by the NFL collective bargaining agreement’s non-injury grievance provisions, despite involving an injury, because the conflict centers on contract interpretation and guaranteed payments. The NFLPA is expected to pursue Wilkins’ compensation aggressively, as paying players under guaranteed contracts is a critical issue in NFL labor relations.
The ongoing grievance could significantly affect the Raiders’ future free agency plans. If the Raiders lose the grievance and have to pay the full guaranteed amount, it would impact their salary cap and financial flexibility, potentially limiting their ability to sign new free agents or retain current players. Additionally, the high-profile nature of this dispute may influence how other players and agents view the Raiders' contract practices, possibly complicating future negotiations.
According to a league source, Wilkins might be claiming he is healthy and seeking to play elsewhere. An NFL team executive indicated there might have been a pattern of conduct leading to the incident. The Raiders saw "no clear path to his return" when they announced his release last week.
The grievance process for Wilkins could take place in the spring or potentially be moved to the fall grievance calendar. The Raiders have declined to comment on the situation. If Wilkins is successful in his grievance, he might aim to recover the difference in salary he could earn elsewhere. If the situation isn't resolved before March, the cap hit could impact the Raiders' free agency plans. The salary cap implications of the grievance process could potentially affect the Raiders' financial decisions in the near future.
Sources:
- ESPN
- NFL Network
- Sports Illustrated
- Christian Wilkins, aiming for another chance in American football, might seek to play for a team other than the Raiders, disputing the team's decision to release him based on his health and compliance issues, as per a league source.
- The NFL Players Association is expected to vigorously pursue Wilkins' compensation to ensure players receive guaranteed salaries in NFL contracts, a critical issue in league labor relations, as the ongoing grievance could impact the Raiders' future financial decisions and free agency plans.
