Jabrill Peppers faces assault and drug charges stemming from a weekend arrest.
The NFL announced Wednesday that New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers has been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list.
While on the list, the first-year team captain may not practice or attend games.
Peppers, 29, was arrested early last Saturday morning after police responded to a domestic incident at his home in Braintree, Mass. He was arraigned at Quincy District Court on Monday and charged with assault and battery on an intimate partner, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of a Class B substance believed to be cocaine.
A not guilty plea was entered on all counts and Peppers, who posted $2,500 bail, waived his right to appear in court for the next case hearing on Nov. 22. He was ordered not to have any contact with the alleged female victim.
“We informed the NFL and we’re still gathering information,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters during his Monday video conference. “I know the team put out a statement earlier. I’m not sure how the league and how we are going to handle that going forward. We should find out some more information over the next few days.”
Peppers, who was a limited participant in practice last week due to a shoulder injury, had been downgraded from questionable to out on the eve of what became a 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The former Michigan Wolverine signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension during training camp and started the initial four games of the season, totaling 23 tackles and one interception across 241 defensive snaps.
Peppers is permitted to attend meetings, workouts and receive treatments at the club facility while not currently counting against the 53-man roster.
The Houston Texans visit Gillette Stadium for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday.