Head Coach Extremely Thankful To Have Defensive Star Back To Team After Spending Most Of The Season in exemption.
Patriots defensive back Jabrill Peppers has rejoined the team after spending much of the season on the commissioner’s exempt list.
He had been placed on the list following charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation or suffocation, possession of cocaine, and assault and battery on a family or household member.
Peppers is still awaiting a criminal trial scheduled for 2025 and could face an NFL suspension, but he expressed gratitude for being back with the team.
“Extremely thankful,” Peppers said, according to MassLive.com. “It’s Thanksgiving. There’s a lot to be thankful for right now. I’m just happy to be around the guys, happy to be back in the building, and happy to get back to doing what I love to do.”
Players are typically not removed from the commissioner’s exempt list until their legal cases are resolved. The NFL has not provided an explanation for reinstating Peppers, and when asked, he declined to elaborate. “I’m not at liberty to discuss any details. I’m thankful that the league let me get back to doing what I love. I’m going to let the legal proceedings play out,” he said.
While his trial is still more than a year away, Peppers is eligible to play this Sunday when the Patriots face the Colts.
