FOXBORO — Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers played in his first game Sunday since being removed from the commissioner’s exempt list and returned to the team’s active roster.
Peppers played most of the Pats’ defensive snaps in a heartbreaking 25-24 loss to the Colts, but did so without a notable piece of his uniform: the captain’s “C.”
The 29-year-old described its removal as a “mutual decision” between himself and Jerod Mayo.
“I’ll just leave it at that,” Peppers said post-game.
Peppers did not specify whether or not he remains a captain, after teammates elected him one of six captains late last summer. On Sunday, he finished with a team-high nine tackles, including one for a loss. Peppers’ return seemed to key a defensive plan that relied heavily on playing with three safeties and even rendered second-year backup Marte Mapu a healthy scratch.
Peppers hadn’t played since Sept. 29, when the Patriots lost 30-13 at San Francisco. He walked with a slight limp in the post-game locker room, and was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report with a hurt knee. His status moving forward is unknown.
“I’ll find out a little more tomorrow,” Peppers said. “But I felt pretty good out there.”
The Patriots are now scheduled to head into their bye week and return to action on Dec. 15 at Arizona.
Peppers continues to face charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of a class “B” substance stemming from a domestic dispute on Oct. 5. He pleaded not guilty in October, and a jury trial has been set for Jan. 22.