Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins remains a central figure in the team’s plans—but his prolonged recovery from a foot injury is beginning to cast uncertainty over his 2025 availability. Wilkins has been attending voluntary offseason workouts, but he has yet to participate in on-field activities, signaling a slower-than-expected return.
Wilkins, 29, underwent surgery in early October to repair a Jones fracture in his foot, an injury that ended his first season in Las Vegas after just five games. Despite signing a four-year, $110 million deal to help bolster the Raiders’ defense alongside Maxx Crosby, Wilkins posted modest numbers in his limited appearances: 17 tackles, two sacks, and six quarterback hits.
Christian Wilkins’ Recovery Timeline Raises Concerns for Las Vegas Raiders Ahead of 2025 Season
Head coach Pete Carroll addressed Wilkins’ rehab status during OTAs. “Every day he’s here early, working hard, but we’re still working,” Carroll said, via video from Heidi Fang of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “He’s not ready to get back out. We’re in the midst of a long, challenging process… We’ve really tried to be diligent in the way we’ve worked it, and he’s been on board the whole time. But it has been challenging.”
Concerns about his progress deepened following a report from The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, who noted that Wilkins’ foot was placed back in a walking boot earlier this offseason—after he had previously been out of it. Though he was seen without the boot at OTAs, the back-and-forth has raised red flags about the stability of his recovery.
Adding to the uncertainty, there have been murmurs that he may need another procedure on the foot.
The Raiders signed Wilkins to be a cornerstone of their defensive front. Now, they must hope his rehab stabilizes quickly. If Wilkins misses significant time—or worse, isn’t the same player—Las Vegas could be facing a major setback in Pete Carroll’s first season at the helm.