Christian Wilkins' tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders surprisingly came to an end on July 24 when he was released. The defensive tackle had been considered the crown jewel of the Raiders' 2024 free agent class when signed.

“This franchise has a Commitment to Excellence on and off the field,” the Raiders said in a statement after Wilkins’ release. “With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for the new season.”

A source said the incident, which took place inside a team meeting room, was meant to be ‘playful’ but that the recipient of the kiss had taken offense and reported it to HR