Jabrill Peppers returned to the Patriots’ facility on Tuesday
New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers is now back with the team after being removed from the Commissioner Exempt List.
After getting removed from the Commissioner Exempt List on Monday, New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was back in the team facility on Tuesday. Peppers was on the field for the portion of practice open to the media on Tuesday.
This was the first practice for Peppers since he was arrested on assault and drug charges in early October. Following the arrest Peppers was placed on the Exempt List by the NFL, which barred him from participating in any team activities.
Prior to Tuesday’s practice, head coach Jerod Mayo addressed Peppers’ return. “We put the statement out yesterday from an organizational standpoint of how we want to let this process work itself out,” Mayo said, referring to this statement from the team. “Look, when Pep is ready to go, hopefully we can get him to the game.”
Asked who was involved in the decision to have Peppers return to to the team after being removed from the exempt list, Mayo said “It’s a combination of things. I’m grateful for how ownership has allowed Eliot [Wolf, executive VP of player personnel] and myself to to make these type of types of decisions. We’ll see what this looks like as it continues to play out.”
Mayo declined to indicate whether or not Peppers would address the team upon his return, or whether or not he would remain a captain, saying those conversations would be kept “in house.”
“I’m just happy to be around the guys. Happy to be back in the building. Happy to get back to doing what I love to do,” Peppers himself said Tuesday, addressing the media for the first time since the arrest.
“It’s been a tough not to be out there,” he continued. “Especially when you know you can help the team in some way, some form, some fashion. But I also think it was beneficial for the young guys to get these reps, get this experience and hopefully helps us in the long run.”
Peppers did not discuss the details of his case on Tuesday. “I understand that you guys all have questions about what transpired earlier in the season,” he said. “Under the advice of my attorneys, I’m not at liberty to discuss any details, and I look forward to doing so as part of legal proceedings.”
While Peppers didn’t share the details of his case or conversations with the league, he did confirm he has spoken with Patriots ownership. Team owner Robert Kraft said in an interview shortly after Peppers’ arrest in October, “if what was reported is true, he’s gone.”
While Peppers did return to practice on Tuesday, it does sound like he may not be immediately ready to return to game action this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
“I’m just taking it day-by-day,” Peppers said when asked on Tuesday about playing this Sunday. “I was pretty banged up after the 49ers game. I had a bunch of things I was dealing with. I feel pretty good right now, been working back to get back in shape. So we’re just take it day-by-day.” Peppers was listed on the injury report with an ankle issue prior to that Week 4 game, the last one he played this year.
Mayo also didn’t give a definitive answer on Peppers playing Sunday. When asked, he reiterated the expectation was for Peppers to start practicing and then “we’ll get to that bridge when we get there.”
