Jabrill Peppers, the safety for the New England Patriots, said that his legal team is working with the NFL on its ongoing investigation, but he is unsure when he might return to play. He was recently removed from the commissioner’s exempt list, which made him eligible to practice and play in games again.
Peppers was back at the Patriots’ facility on Tuesday and participated in a workout with his teammates for the first time since being placed on the exempt list on October 9. This happened two days after he was arrested and charged with pushing his girlfriend’s head into a wall and choking her.
The NFL stated on Monday that its review of Peppers’ case is still ongoing and has not changed now that his status on the roster has been updated. Peppers has missed the last seven games, and his next court appearance is set for January.
Peppers spoke briefly before practice on Tuesday and mentioned that he had talked with the team’s ownership. He also said his legal team is cooperating with the NFL’s investigation. “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 said.
He did not go into any specifics about the case, following the advice of his lawyer.
Peppers played in the first four games of the season and missed one game due to a shoulder injury before being placed on the exempt list. This list allows NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to put a player on paid leave while the league reviews their situation.
When asked if he expects Peppers to play this season, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said he is leaving that decision open. “To me I think it’s just respect for the legal process to let that stuff play out,” Mayo said. “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.”
Braintree police were called to a home on October 7 for an altercation between two people, and a woman claimed that Peppers had choked her. The police also found a clear plastic bag with a white powder at the scene, which later tested positive for cocaine.
Peppers, 29, pleaded not guilty in Quincy District Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class “B” substance, believed to be cocaine. A trial date has been set for January 22.
Peppers was a first-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2017, and after two seasons with them, he spent three years with the New York Giants before joining the Patriots in 2022. He signed a contract extension with New England this summer.
