Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers Are Betting Their Seasons on These Injured Stars originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Two of Clemson’s most prominent NFL exports, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and wide receiver Mike Williams, are heading into the 2025 season with a shared designation: X-factor. Pro Football Focus has identified the former Tigers as pivotal figures whose performances could single-handedly alter the fortunes of their respective AFC West franchises.
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For the Las Vegas Raiders, the pressure is on Wilkins to live up to the massive four-year, $110 million contract he signed last offseason. After five dominant years with the Miami Dolphins, his debut season in silver and black was abruptly cut short by a season-ending foot injury in Week 5. Before the Jones fracture, which required surgery, Wilkins was already making his presence felt, logging 17 tackles and two sacks.
Las Vegas Raiders DT Christian Wilkins.Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
The Raiders are banking on a full recovery. A healthy and disruptive Wilkins is seen as the critical missing piece to elevate a pass rush that languished near the bottom of the league in 2024, earning PFF’s sixth-worst grade. “If he can bounce back and show why he was worth that money, it would take pressure off Maxx Crosby and improve a unit that earned the league’s sixth-worst PFF pass-rush grade in 2024,” noted PFF’s analysis. A return to his All-Pro form isn’t just a hope; it’s a necessity for the Raiders’ defense.
Meanwhile, in a familiar Southern California setting, Mike Williams is looking for a career revival with the Los Angeles Chargers. After a winding 2024 season that saw him with both the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers following a torn ACL in 2023, Williams is back with the team that drafted him seventh overall in 2017. He returns on a one-year “prove-it” deal worth up to $6 million.
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Despite a challenging couple of seasons, Williams’ track record as a premier deep threat is undeniable. His career average of 15.5 yards per reception ranks second among all qualified receivers since he entered the league. The Chargers are betting that the 6-foot-4 target can reclaim that big-play ability and provide a veteran presence for a young wide receiver corps.
“Williams is back with the Chargers after an uninspiring season with the Jets and Steelers,” wrote PFF’s Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman. “Now that he’s back in Los Angeles, he’ll look to revive his career and be a reliable No. 2 option behind Ladd McConkey.”
As the 2025 season approaches, both former Clemson standouts find themselves at a crossroads. For Wilkins, it’s about validating a blockbuster deal and anchoring a defense. For Williams, it’s about proving he’s still a dominant force. For both the Raiders and the Chargers, their success could hinge on these Tiger-turned-X-factors.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.