FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers has confirmed that his legal team is cooperating with the ongoing investigation by the NFL, but he is uncertain about when he will be returning to team activities after being taken off the commissioner’s exempt list. This decision has now made him eligible to practice with the team and participate in upcoming games.
Peppers returned to the Patriots’ facility on Tuesday and engaged in a workout with his teammates, marking his first appearance since being placed on the exempt list on October 9. This action came just two days following his arrest, where he faced charges related to an incident involving his girlfriend, which included accusations of pushing her head into a wall and choking her. The NFL has stated that their investigation is still ongoing and that Peppers’ change in roster status does not influence their review process. He has been sidelined from the past seven games, with his next court appearance scheduled for January.
During a brief media session lasting just over two minutes prior to practice, Peppers indicated that he has been in communication with both the team ownership and his legal representatives regarding the situation. “I’m not at liberty to discuss any details. I’m thankful that the league let me get back to doing what I love to do and I’m just going to let the legal proceedings play out,” Peppers remarked. He refrained from providing specifics about his case, adhering to the guidance of his lawyer.
Peppers was active in the first four games of the current season, missing one due to a shoulder injury before he was placed on the exempt list, which allows NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell the authority to place a player on paid leave while their case is under review. When asked if he anticipates Peppers’ return to play this season, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo left the door open, stating the importance of respecting the legal process. “To me I think it’s just respect for the legal process to let that stuff play out,” Mayo explained. “For us inside these four walls, as long as he’s doing the right thing, I expect him to play when he’s ready to go.”
According to the Braintree police, officers were dispatched to a residence concerning a domestic altercation on October 7, where a woman reported that Peppers had choked her. During their investigation, authorities discovered a clear plastic bag containing a white powder, which later tested positive for cocaine. Peppers, aged 29, entered a plea of not guilty in Quincy District Court to charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, along with possession of a Class “B” substance, believed to be cocaine. A trial date has been set for January 22.
Peppers was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, where he spent two seasons before moving to the New York Giants for three years. He joined the New England Patriots in 2022 and signed a contract extension over the summer.