Tag: Christian Wilkins

Christian Wilkins is helping Raiders even without playing Week 11 vs Dolphins

Raiders DT Christian Wilkins is on IR, and thus won’t play vs the Dolphins, but his intel on his former team could prove very beneficial.

Don’t let the 3-6 record fool you. The Dolphins team is very good. And the Raiders will have to use every advantage they can if they hope to pull out a win.

One advantage they will not have on the field with them is Christian Wilkins. The Pro Bowl DT is currently on injured reserve. But just because he can’t take the field, doesn’t mean he isn’t helping them.

When the Raiders take the field in Miami, they will be facing a team full of former Wilkins’ teammates playing for a staff of former Wilkins’ coaches. And they plan to get every bit of intel on the orange and aqua Wilkins can provide.

“Absolutely. We’re in the business of gathering information,” said Raiders DC Patrick Graham. “Christian [Wilkins], he’s a smart football player, he picks up on tendencies well. So, absolutely getting information from him.”

Wilkins was a first round pick by the Dolphins and spent the first five years of his career in Miami. The last four lining up across from Tua Tagovailoa in practice every day and the last two under head coach Mike McDaniel. So, he knows a thing or two about their strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies.

Certainly facing former players on other teams is nothing new. It happens every week practically. Sometimes it is quite beneficial. This could be one of those times.

Raiders 2024 midseason awards: Top newcomer, breakout player, best position group, more

It’s the midway mark for the NFL season. And it happens to also be the bye week for the Raiders. So, with that in mind, let’s dole out some awards.

It’s the midway mark for the NFL season. And it happens to also be the bye week for the Raiders. So, with that in mind, let’s dole out some awards.

This was an easy choice. Bowers has been on a record pace this season for rookie tight ends. His 580 yards receiving is best among tight ends and his 57 catches is second in the league at any position behind only Jets WR Garrett Wilson.

Not a lot of competition for this award. But prior to Wilkins’s injury he was one of the best free agent signings of any team this offseason. They’re hoping he can return this season.

He was benched four games into his rookie season. Now he’s playing at a high level as an earned starting cornerback. He hasn’t logged an interception, but he routinely shows great skills and sticky coverage on some very talented deep threats.

No Raiders players are either coming back from a major injury or coming back to previous from off of a down season. Perhaps that will change by season’s end, but for now, there’s simply no one who fits this award.

If you’d prefer to put Luke Getsy here, I get it. But, personally, I don’t think a lot was expected of Getsy. He was not nearly the Raiders top choice for the job and was somehow even worse. Minshew was expected to at least add a steady presence at QB to settle down the offense. He wasn’t seen as someone who would win games for the Raiders, but rather not lose them. And he hasn’t lived up to that.

Not only did he not jump in and take the reins of the offense in camp as the Raiders had hoped, he’s been benched several times this season as he has thrown more interceptions (8) than touchdowns (8).

When all else fails — and it has — at least the Raiders have their kick squad. Daniel Carlson and AJ Cole are still arguably the best kicking duo in the league.

You could also go with “Only good game” as the title of this award. That win in Baltimore looks more and more like a fluke the farther down the line we get from it. Their other win was because Deshaun Watson was so determined to lose it for the Browns. The Ravens game was the only game this season the Raiders actually went out and earned the victory. Not coincidentally, it was also the only game they increased their scoring in the second half.

There were many to choose from for this one. Just pick one, really.

Could go with the home opening loss to the Panthers in which they never led and Andy Dalton led offense to put up 33 points in in the first 47 minutes.

Maybe the Rams where the Raiders turned the ball over four times?

Perhaps the Chiefs game where the running backs averaged less than a yard per carry?

Or the Steelers game where Pittsburgh rattled off 26 unanswered?

Or the Broncos who had a 100-yard pick six and rattled off 34 unanswered?

There’s always this past week against the Bengals when the Raiders gave up scores on the Bengals first five drives — four of which went for touchdowns — and allowed a season-high 41 points?

Too many options to choose from to pick just one.

Best punter in the league. Periodt.

Yes, the best rookie has also been their best offensive player. Not ideal, but there’s no one else who is even a viable candidate for this award.

He won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team’s come-from-behind win in Baltimore in Week two. He’s been battling an ankle injury for several weeks, which has limited his effectiveness, but he’s still their top defender.

Who steps up for Raiders with Christian Wilkins on injured reserve

The Raiders have a tough task trying to replace Christian Wilkins Sunday against the Steelers and for the next four weeks at least.

Some players are fairly irreplaceable. At least in terms of expecting the next guy on the roster to be able to offer anything comparable in terms of talent and production. Christian Wilkins is one such player. But the Raiders have no choice but to play who they’ve got and hope for the best.

The start DT was placed on injured reserve this week, which means he will be out at least four weeks srarting with Sunday’s game against the Steelers.

Four of the team’s five games this season it’s been Adam Butler who has aptly started alongside Wilkins and that will continue. The two were linemates in Miami in 2021. Filling in for Wilkins will take a village.

It means it will be a rotation which would be led out by John Jenkins, but include second year DT Nesta Jade Silvera, rookie Jonah Laulu and third year former fifth round pick Matthew Butler who was signed to the active roster off the practice squad this week.

“You can’t replace Christian Wilkins,” said Antonio Pierce. “But you can do yourself and be the best version of yourself and that’s what we’re going to ask them to do. Just do your job. When I asked them this week, just do right. Just do right. Don’t go outside the box, don’t be somebody else, don’t try to make that game-winning play or that game-winning tackle, just keep them linemen off our linebackers, get some knockback, and use your hands.”

Last week Laulu got 19 snaps, which was his most of the season. It was also the next most snaps after Adam Butler, Jenkins, and Wilkins. He figures to be the next man up this week as well. While Matthew Butler and Jade Silvera will rotate in as well.

“Matthew Butler has done an outstanding job,” Antonio Pierce said on Friday. He’s been on the practice squad, he’s been active throughout his career here and this is a great opportunity for him going forward to step up.

Raiders DT Christian Wilkins placed on injured reserve after surgery to repair broken foot

Raiders DT Christian Wilkins placed on injured reserve after surgery to repair broken foot

The injuries for Raiders star players continue to stack up. Christian Wilkins left Sunday’s game against the Broncos and didn’t return. It turns out he broke a bone in his foot that required surgery and has been placed on injured reserve.

A trip to IR means Wilkins will be out at least four weeks and there is currently no specific timetable for recovery. Though Wilkins thinks he’ll be back once he comes off IR.

“Christian right away went and got it fixed,” said Pierce. “Talking about he’ll be back in a couple weeks.”

The Raiders made Wilkins their big splash free agent addition this offseason, signing the former Dolphins star to a five-year, $110 million deal.

Wilkins will be replaced in the lineup by Adam Butler.

 

Former Tiger Christian Wilkins added to the injured reserve after surgery

Christian Wilkins is heading to the IR.

Tuesday brought unfortunate news for former Clemson defensive standout Christian Wilkins, who will be out indefinitely after sustaining a foot injury in the Las Vegas Raiders’ recent game against the Denver Broncos.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Wilkins, who suffered a Jones Fracture, is headed to injured reserve and will undergo surgery. This setback comes during his first season with the Raiders, following a major free-agent signing in the offseason.

In his first five games with Las Vegas, the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Wilkins contributed 17 tackles, including two for loss, as well as two sacks and six quarterback hits. A former first-round pick in 2019, Wilkins spent the first five years of his career with the Miami Dolphins, where he recorded 353 tackles, 20.5 sacks, and 43 tackles for loss across 81 games (77 starts) before joining the Raiders.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1843779347985170664

Steelers vs Raiders: Las Vegas places star defensive tackle on IR

The Raiders will take on the Steelers without star DT Christian Wilkins.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers square off with the Las Vegas Raiders this week, they will have one less star defender to contend with. On Tuesday, the Raiders placed defensive tackle Christian Wilkins on IR.

Wilkins is on IR due to having surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his foot. He is out indefinitely and they team offered no specific timetable for a return. Wilkins came over to the Raiders this offseason from Miami Dolphins as one of the biggest free-agent signings of the offseason. He’s a former No. 13 overall pick.

The absence of Wilkins should make life easier for a Steelers offensive line that continues to shuffle starting spots and struggle with growing pains associated with two rookies as starters.

The Steelers defense is going to be short-handed as well. Head coach Mike Tomlin has ruled out edge rushers Nick Herbig and Demarvin Leal after both suffered injuries last weekend against the Dallas Cowboys.

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Ballers for Raiders Week 4 win over Browns

Sifting out the notable performances for the Raiders in their win over the Browns.

For the third week in a row, the Raiders went against the grain and shocked the world. Week two it was an improbably win in Baltimore. Week three they were trounced by the winless Panthers. And this week, despite a slew of injuries including to their two best players, they beat the Browns.

They did so by spreading out the Browns’ defense while the Raiders defense completely shut down the Browns offense after the first quarter.

We start with those who were most responsible for that big win.

Ballers

DE Charles Snowden

A month ago, Snowden was cut. Now he’s playing hero for a Raiders team desperate to replace both of the guys they were going to count on to be their starting pass rushers. His biggest play was the last one when he chased down Deshaun Watson on fourth and three to sack him and end the game.

How he even got there is the most impressive part. Snowden came around the right side on a stunt and Watson rolled left, running all the way to the left sideline and Snowden still caught him.

That wasn’t his only big play tho. Two plays before that, he got pressure and batted down a Watson pass. In total, he tied for the team lead with three QB hits and a tackle for loss.

S Isaiah Pola-Mao

That game-ending sack never would have happened if not for Pola-Mao. He made the tackle on the previous play, stopping it short of the sticks to force fourth down. Pola-Mao also made the big play on the Browns’ previous drive, flying over from center field to knock the ball out of the hands of Jerry Jeudy on what was actually a long catch for an instant. He also made the drive stalling tackle on the Browns’ second drive to hold them to a field goal.

WR Tre Tucker

Tucker had a hand in both of the Raiders touchdowns in this game. The first touchdown drive, he made a 14-yard catch on third and seven to keep the drive alive. Then finished it off with an end around from three yards out for the touchdown.

The second touchdown, he laid the final block near the goal line, driving his man out of bounds to ensure DJ Turner could get the final few yards to get in the end zone.

DT Adam Butler

With the leadership void due to the absence of Maxx Crosby, Butler stepped up. He gave a speech to the team inspired by his military upbringing. Then brought that passion to the field. The first third down of the game, he came flying into the backfield on a pass to absolutely bury Deshaun Watson. He was flagged for a horrible roughing the passer penalty, but so what. It wasn’t roughing and the message needed sent.

The next drive ended with a field goal in part because Butler got into the backfield again to make a run stuff for a loss and they couldn’t pick it back up.

The final play of the third quarter for the Raiders’ defense was a sack. Christian Wilkins and Janarius Robinson split credit for it, but Butler was in on it as well, coming right up the gut to ensure the sack sandwich from each side.

The final two Browns’ possessions at the end of the game, Butler had three tackles and a QB hit in which he had Watson wrapped up and off the ground right as the ball was released. The next play, the game was over.

Butler finished tied for second on the team in tackles (six) along with a QB hit (two really) and a tackle for loss.

RB Alexander Mattison

The running game came to life in this game. In part because of the use of jet sweeps and reverses to spread out the defense. But the only back on this team who was consistently making good use of it was Mattison.

He had three huge runs in this game on just five carries. All three of those runs was longer than any run the Raiders had had in the three game to start this season.

The first big run went for 24 yards — double the previous longest run coming in — and it set up the Raiders game-tying field goal before the half. His second big run went for 16 yards to the 19 and the Raiders scored the touchdown around the outside on the next play. His final big run went for 18 yards late in the fourth quarter to help take time off the clock and win the field position battle.

Mattison finished with 60 yards on five carries (12 yards per carry) and Antonio Pierce has said since then that he has earned more carries as a result.

LB Robert Spillane

Once again, Spillane led the team in tackles, putting up double digits for the fourth straight game this season. The first three of those tackles came on the Browns’ opening drive and all for three yards or less.

He made two stops on each of the Browns possessions in the second quarter, including a tackle for loss and a three-and-out.

S Tre’von Moehrig

He had the Raiders only takeaway, hauling in an interception off of Amari Cooper’s chest. It set up the Raiders final touchdown drive. Also on the final Browns drive, Jerome Ford burst for a 35-yard run that might have been a touchdown if not to Moehrig making the tackle at the 16-yard-line.

DT Christian Wilkins

Wilkins tied for the team lead with three QB hits. He also shared a sack and forced a holding penalty that called back a long touchdown that would have put the Browns ahead in the fourth quarter.

Honorable Mention

WR Jakobi Meyers — led the team with 49 yards on five catches and forced a pass interference.

WR DJ Turner — scored a touchdown on a reverse from 19 yards out and would have had a long catch as well, but the pass was overthrown.

TE Brock Bowers — Had a 12-yard run and made a huge block on two defenders that sprung Turner for his 19-yard touchdown.

TE Harrison Bryant — Had several nice blocks including on the 12-yard Bowers run and a 10-yard run that put the Raiders in first and goal on their first TD drive.

P AJ Cole — Two huge punts in the fourth quarter helped to keep the Browns from scoring and hold the Raiders’ 20-16 lead.

Continue to the Busters…

Raiders PFF grades: 5 highest rated from Week 4 vs. Browns

Raiders PFF grades: 5 highest rated from Week 4 vs. Browns

The Raiders beat the Browns on Sunday, but not until defensive end Charles Snowden sacked Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson in the game’s final seconds. But another Las Vegas EDGE player earned the top spot on Pro Football Focus’ weekly list of highest-graded Raiders.

It’s former first-round pick Tyree Wilson. He finished with an 82.7 grade to pace the silver and black.

Wilson didn’t make a large impact on Sunday with conventional statistics. He had one tackle and two QB hits. But it was easy to see that he provided pressure on passing downs early in the game. Plus, he played over 70 percent of the snaps on defense, so this grade is no fluke. If Wilson, the former first-round draft pick, can build off this performance, it could be huge for the Raiders.

Two more defenders made the list. Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins had his best game as a Raider and earned a 78.6 grade. Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao entered the starting lineup in place of injured S Marcus Epps and was an immediate impact player, earning a grade just below Wilkins’ at 78.2.

Two players on offense closed the list out, and they both stepped up for injured teammates as well. Tight end Harrison Bryant subbed in for TE Michael Mayer, who was ruled out on Sunday for personal reasons. Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers stepped up in the absence of injured star WR Davante Adams.

But no question, Wilson’s performance is the headline here. He’s underperformed in his short career, but he’s been dealing with injuries since the NFL Draft process. If he can provide a boost on the edge to help superstar DE Maxx Crosby when he returns from his ankle injury, the Raiders defense could take a massive leap forward.

Raiders defense took Maxx Crosby absence as personal challenge in win over Browns

Proving you can perform without your best player is easier said than done. But the Raiders defense did just that without Maxx Crosby Sunday.

For the first time in five years, the Raiders defense took the field to start a game without Maxx Crosby. The last time that happened was October of 2019, which means there isn’t a player on this defense who has experienced it in a Raiders uniform. So, it was definitely an unfamiliar experience.

There was no choice in the matter. The Raiders had to figure it out. That goes for everything Crosby represents with this defense. Their emotional leader and keep the Browns from doing to them what the Panthers did last week.

Early on it, this one had a ‘her we go again’ feel to it. The Browns scored a touchdown on the opening drive and were up 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. But you could tell on that second drive, the defense was figuring things out. They gave up just one first down on the second drive and stalled the drive after that.

Then they went the rest of the game without giving up a point and went on to beat the Browns 20-16. The six points were scored off a fumble return for a touchdown.

The defensive line led the way in this effort. Including Christian Wilkins who had a sack and three QB hits.

Wilkins’ knew that stepping up to this challenge would start even before that first step onto the field. It began in the locker room. And with Crosby out, it was Wilkins’s duty to be the emotional leader.

He didn’t have to do it alone, though. Adam Butler took it upon himself to speak to the team and offer some words of inspiration as well.

Butler was raised in a military family, so he had a simple question for his teammates. 

“As the bullets are flying, what are you willing to put on the line?” Butler asked. “I just put that question up in the air and I made a deal with them, I said I won’t let you down if you don’t let me down. I’m going to fly to the ball and you fly to the ball. And we’ll come out victorious and that’s what we did.”

Butler held up his end. He made several key stops, finishing the game second in tackles (6) along with a tackle for loss and a QB hit.

In the end, it was one of those edge rushers tasked with filling in for Crosby who slammed the door on the Browns. 

In fourth and three, with the game in the balance, Deshaun Watson escaped out left, looking for a receiver or to take off and run for the first down. But Charles Snowden made sure neither could happen. He chased Watson down and sacked him to end the game.

Snowden said he and his fellow edge rushers took it as a personal challenge to step up in Crosby’s absence.

“We knew that not one of us was going to become Maxx Crosby overnight,” said Snowden. “We knew that would take the collective with his playmaking and his energy and just his presence. Maxx is always getting guys going with his energy out there so we knew we had to just collectively had to really do that.”

Snowden finished tied for the team lead with three QB hits to go along with his sack, a tackle for loss, and a batted pass. Janarius Robinson shared a sack, Tyree Wilson had two QB hits, and practice squad call up K’Lavon Chaisson added four tackles.

Deshaun Watson was held to 176 yards on the day with one TD and one interception. It looked for a moment like he might have a long TD to Amari Cooper, but a holding on Wilkins is what allowed him just enough time to get the pass off and thus wiped it away.

And the collective effort of those stepping up to fill the void left by Crosby’s absence is what eventually preserved the win.

Injury update: Raiders DT Christian Wilkins, DE Maxx Crosby expected to play vs Panthers

The Raiders will have they interior and edge pass rushing duo together vs Panthers

When your team’s two best players both show up on the injury report, it can be a bit concerning. When they are officially Questionable for the game, it’s even more concerning. That was the case with Maxx Crosby (ankle) and Christian Wilkins (knee) this week.

Head coach Antonio Pierce said on Friday that Crosby would be playing in the game. So, barring any setbacks, Maxx was playing. Not a big surprise considering his history with playing through injuries.

“He hasn’t missed any practice,” Pierce said of Crosby. “So, regardless of what I want to do, I’ve got to fight 98 and everything that he does. But the ultimate warrior. I mean, you see it with the stats this year, he hasn’t missed a snap, and I don’t expect him missing Sunday, either. I don’t expect him missing Sunday.”

That just left the question of whether Wilkins’s knee would be healthy enough for him to go. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, he too will play Sunday.

https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1837677379377860613

The Raiders have one of the league’s best defenses. That defense runs on its pass rush. Over the first two games, the two of them often set each other up for sacks and pressures.

“Just good chemistry,” Pierce said of Wilkins and Crosby. “And I think it’s an unselfish play by Christian, because there’s no sacks there, right? There’s not a lot of stats. We’re talking about Maxx Crosby, AFC [Defensive] Player of the Week. A lot of that’s coming because of what’s happening with Christian. Christian’s demanding too, right? He’s taking that guard and tackle, whatever it may be, and that’s freeing up Maxx winning these one-on-one opportunities. And Maxx is making the most out of it.”