Wilkins Latest Update No More Encouraging Than the Previous One

The former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle left for Las Vegas for a deal that averages $28 million annually

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (94) celebrates his sack in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

There was a Christian Wilkins sighting this week, but it didn't offer much in the way of good news for the former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle.

Wilkins was shown in an Instagram story of another former Dolphins player, Kyle Van Noy, from his Van Noy Valor Foundation Golf Tournament in Utah. Wilkins was in a walking boot, a residual effect from the Jones fracture in his left foot that cut short his 2024 season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Christian Wilkins at Kyle Van Noy's charity golf tournament | Kyle Van Noy Instagram

This isn't exactly encouraging news for Wilkins a month ahead of the start of training camps around the NFL after he was the Dolphins' most significant free agent departure of the past 10 years.

Per the Cleveland Clinic, a Jones fracture occurs "when you break your fifth metatarsal — the bone that joins your pinkie toe to the base of your foot."

During the offseason program, new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll described Wilkins' recovery as a "long, challenging process."

“Every day he’s here early, working hard, but,” Carroll said. “He’s not ready to get back out. We’re in the midst of a long, challenging process. Fortunately, there’s a lot of time, and we’re going to take every bit of it. We’ve really tried to be really diligent in the way we’ve worked it and the way we’ve wanted it and all that, and he’s been on board the whole time. But it has been challenging.”

According to The Athletic, Wilkins had to be put in a walking boot again earlier this offseason after earlier having it removed. The boot first went on after Wilkins was injured during an October game against the Denver Broncos.

Because of his injury, Wilkins was limited to five games with Las Vegas last season, finishing with two sacks and six QB hits. One of his sacks occurred in the game where he was injured.

Through no fault of his own, Wilkins has yet to justify the Raiders signing him to a massive four-year, $112 million contract during the 2024 offseason and has validated the Dolphins' decision not to give him that kind of contract.

In a Sports Illustrated story published on the five worst free agent contract signings of 2024, Wilkins made the list at number 5.

"It's somewhat unfair to put Wilkins on the list, considering so much of the disappointment surrounding his 2024 season is because of a foot injury that limited him to five games," reporter Matt Verderame wrote. "Still, the Raiders doled out $110 million, including $82.75 million guaranteed over four years. Those numbers were only eclipsed by Kirk Cousins in free agency, and not approached by any other defensive player. In the five games he played, Wilkins totaled two sacks and 11 solo tackles. If Wilkins can come back and rebound in his age-29 season, perhaps the contract won't prove to be a bust. However, if he's not fantastic in 2025, his pact could be another regret for the Raiders."

WHY THE DOLPHINS LET WILKINS WALK

Wilkins was a very good player for the Dolphins, even if he never made the Pro Bowl or was selected an All-Pro, but the truth is he never was a game-changing interior defensive lineman like Aaron Donald or Chris Jones or even his former Clemson teammate Dexter Lawrence.

Maybe Wilkins can deliver big plays for the Raiders in 2025, and it certainly won't hurt that his defensive line partner Maxx Crosby now has a massive new contract that's made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

For the Dolphins, Wilkins' injury was painful in that it pushed down the compensatory pick they got for his free agent loss from a third-round selection to a fourth-rounder.