Bizarre: Raiders Star Released After Reportedly Kissing Teamate

Okay, this might be the most bizarre story you read today.

ESPN has reported that Las Vegas Raiders star Christian Wilkins was released from the team after kissing a teammate on top of the head.

Wilkins reportedly was being playful, but his teammate took offense and reported the incident to the Raiders’ HR department.

🚨🚨BREAKING🚨🚨#Raiders DT Christian Wilkins allegedly “playfully” attempted to KISS HIS TEAMMATE on his forehead.

The teammate “felt offended by it” & then reported the incident to the team.

The team already had a problem with his injury then RELEASED him.

WOW.

(Via ESPN) pic.twitter.com/7KUUXAktVJ

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) July 28, 2025

ESPN reported more details on the bizarre incident:

Christian Wilkins, who was released by the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, kissed a fellow player on the head and the teammate took offense to it, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The incident was not the sole reason Wilkins was cut, sources said. Wilkins has been recovering from a Jones fracture, which he suffered in his left foot last October.

Because of how Wilkins has treated the rehab from his injury, the Raiders voided the remaining $35.2 million of guaranteed money left on his contract June 4, sources said. He was released with the designation of terminated vested veteran, sources told Schefter. Wilkins asked the NFL Players Association to file a grievance on his behalf, and the union did so Thursday.

Last week’s incident happened inside a team meeting room. One source told ESPN that the interaction was “playful,” but the teammate didn’t see it that way. It’s not known what the fellow player did following the incident.

A complaint was filed to the Raiders’ human resources department, which investigated the incident, a source told Schefter.

The Raiders, through a team spokesperson, declined to comment.

Last offseason, Wilkins signed a four-year, $110 million deal, including $84.75 million guaranteed, with Las Vegas. He had spent the previous five seasons with the Miami Dolphins, with whom he posted a career-best nine sacks in 2023.

Christian Wilkins released for kissing another teammate?

Who could have possibly seen this coming pic.twitter.com/NAqnH6OwST

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) July 28, 2025

Wild: Raiders DT Adam Butler with a surprising response after getting asked about Christian Wilkins getting cut for attempting to kiss a teammate on the head.

"If you're going through something, talk to someone, get some help, and CONSIDER THERAPY."

What did Wilkins do…😬😬 pic.twitter.com/t8R1DmnUKf

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 29, 2025

Yahoo Sports reported more on the incident:

Las Vegas Raiders star Christian Wilkins has been released from the team after being reported to HR after kissing the top of a teammate’s head.

A source told ESPN that the defensive tackle had intended the incident, which took place inside a team meeting room, to be “playful” but that the recipient of the kiss had taken offense.

“We have decided that it is in the best interests of the organization to move on from Christian Wilkins and he has been informed of his release from the team,” the Raiders said in a statement shared to social media on Thursday.

“This franchise has a Commitment to Excellence on and off the field.”

The teammate had reportedly not been impressed by the incident, which had been reported to HR and investigated internally, ESPN reported.