Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers is set to face trial on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class B substance, believed to be cocaine. The trial is scheduled to take place in Quincy, Massachusetts.
The allegations stem from an incident in October when police in Braintree, Massachusetts, responded to a call reporting an altercation between Peppers and his girlfriend. According to court documents, Peppers is accused of pushing the woman to the ground, shoving her head into a wall, and choking her multiple times.
Upon arrival at the scene, police found a clear plastic bag containing a white powder, later confirmed to be cocaine. Peppers was arrested without incident and subsequently placed on the commissioner's exempt list, which prevented him from participating in team activities.
Peppers' attorney has raised doubts about the allegations, citing videotaped evidence. As a condition of his release, Peppers agreed not to have contact with the woman involved in the incident.
Despite being removed from the exempt list in November, Peppers missed several games due to foot and hamstring injuries. He was eventually placed on injured reserve before the Patriots' season finale against the Buffalo Bills.
Peppers, who signed a contract extension with the Patriots in the summer, has a current deal with the team running through 2027. The NFL continues to review his criminal case independently of his roster status.
Jabrill Peppers, originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2017, has been with the Patriots for three seasons after a stint with the New York Giants.
