The Las Vegas Raiders released defensive tackle Christian Wilkins on Thursday, and head coach Pete Carroll broke his silence on the shocking move.
During a media appearance at Raiders training camp on Friday, Carroll stated that there was no clear path for Wilkins to return to the team, which led to the franchise cutting ties with the veteran defender.
"It took a long time to make our decision, and we watched our way through the whole thing," Carroll said on cutting Wilkins. "We're keeping really clear with what we said. I think there was no clear path to his return, so we just had to move on."
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Raiders didn't like the way Wilkins was approaching his rehab, and as a result, Las Vegas voided the remaining guarantees in his contract and moved on.
Wilkins is also filing a grievance with some help from the NFLPA due to the Raiders' decision to void his guarantees.
"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 wrote.
After signing a four-year deal worth $110 million with Las Vegas last year, Wilkins was expected to be a dominant force on the defensive line next to Maxx Crosby. However, the 29-year-old played in just five games in 2024 due to a Jones fracture and will never play another snap as a Raider.
Wilkins will go down as one of the biggest free agent busts in franchise history, and Las Vegas will now have to move ahead without him in the future plans at defensive tackle.
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