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Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was reportedly released last week after kissing a teammate on the head, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter
"When you speak to people there inside the locker room they say that Christian playfully went to kiss a teammate on top of his head and those same people said that that player took offense to it," Schefter said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday (July 28). "So that's what everybody's been dancing around...an incident in the locker room where he allegedly, playfully kissed a teammate on top of his head, that teammate felt offended by it and that's what a lot of this talk and speculation that people have just been floating around out there is about."
The incident wasn't the sole reason Wilkins, 29, was released as he was still recovering from a Jones fracture in his left foot dating back to last October. The Raiders were able to void the remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money owed to the former Clemson University standout on his contract as of June 4 due to how he has treated his rehabilitation from the injury.
Wilkins was released with the designation of terminated vested veteran, sources confirmed to Schefter, and the NFL Players Association complied to his request to file a grievance regarding his release last Thursday (July 24).
Wilkins was selected by the Miami Dolphins at No. 13 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft and spent his first five seasons with the franchise before signing a four-year, $110 million deal, including $84.75 million guaranteed, with the Raiders last offseason. The two-time College Football Playoff National Champion recorded 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and six QB hits in five games prior to his injury during his lone season in Las Vegas.