The Oakland Raiders are about to begin their preseason campaign, but star defensive end Khalil Mack’s holdout doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Mack will still not be in camp on Friday ahead of the team’s preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, which will result in an $814,000 fine, as stated in the collective bargaining agreement.
Schefter further notes that there is currently no end in sight to Mack's continued holdout.
Mack is entering the final season of his rookie contract that is set to pay him $13.8 million. He has held out throughout the offseason as he looks for a new long-term contract extension.
However, communication appears to be a major issue hindering Mack and the Raiders from coming to terms on any deal. The two sides reportedly haven’t engaged in any contract negotiations since February.
Meanwhile, Mack reportedly hasn’t spoken with Raiders coach Jon Gruden since his appointment in January (although Gruden has denied this claim) and still isn’t talking to the team at the moment.
Mack has been among the very best defensive players in the NFL since his arrival in 2014. He is a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro, and the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He’s also recorded 40.5 sacks in his career, including at least 10 in each of the last three seasons.
But given how the whole Mack situation is playing out, it won’t be too surprising if the Raiders actually do consider trading away their star defensive player, if they aren’t already.
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