Patriots’ Jabrill Peppers placed on Commissioner Exempt List after arrest on assault, drug possession charges

New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was arrested Saturday on assault and drug possession charges following an incident in Braintree, Massachusetts, local police announced Monday. Police say there was an altercation between two people at a home that led to Peppers’ arrest. The 29-year-old was arraigned on Monday in Quincy District Court. 

Peppers is expected to be charged with assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and possession of a Class B drug that authorities believe was cocaine, per CBS Boston. The victim was treated at the scene. 

On Wednesday, the NFL placed Peppers on the Commissioner Exempt List. Peppers may not practice or attend games while on the list.

Peppers had a not guilty plea entered on all counts while prosecutors asked for him to have no contact with the female victim in the case, which his attorney agreed to. Peppers also posed a $2,500 bail. He is next scheduled to appear in court on November 22, but Peppers waived his right to appear in court. 

Peppers did not play in New England’s Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The veteran was initially listed as questionable for that matchup and later downgraded to out on Saturday. It was assumed to be due to a shoulder injury that limited him at practice last week, but this off-field incident now brings Peppers’ absence into focus.

“We are aware of an incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend in which the police are currently investigating,” the Patriots said in a statement, via NFL Media. “We will have no further comment at this time.”

Peppers joined the Patriots in 2022 and had developed into a key piece to the secondary, inking a three-year, $30 million extension in late July. He was also named a team captain for the first time this season. The veteran entered the league as a first-round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns in 2017 out of Michigan and also had a stint with the New York Giants before landing in Foxborough.