Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was arrested on assault and drug charges in Massachusetts on Saturday, police announced Monday morning.
An altercation between two people led to the arrest, and the charges against Peppers include strangulation.
Braintree police believe the drug found on the scene was cocaine.
The victim was treated at the scene, officials told WCVB.
Peppers was downgraded from questionable with a knee injury to out on the Patriots’ injury report Saturday after the incident occurred.
Peppers was arraigned and pleaded not guilty on Monday at Quincy District Court, where he was held on $2,500 bail.
Peppers’ attorney told WCVB they have evidence that “sheds real doubt on the allegations.”
“He called me that morning. I knew what was going on. We’ve informed the NFL what was going on and we’re still gathering information,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said on WEEI on Monday morning, according to MassLive.com.
Mayo was asked during the radio interview if the team had any plans to release the veteran.
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t think anyone knows the facts or anything like that. It’s a process,” said Mayo, who is in his first year as head coach after replacing Bill Belichick.
Peppers, 29, is in his third year with New England and was named a captain this offseason.
“We are aware of the incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend in which the police are currently investigating. We will have no further comments at this time,” a Patriots spokesperson told MassLive.
Peppers, a New Jersey native, played with the Giants from 2019 to 2021 after being acquired from the Browns in the Odell Beckham trade.
Peppers left the Giants after three seasons, tearing his ACL in his final one.
Peppers signed with the Patriots after the 2021 season.
The former Michigan star had two solid seasons in New England before signing a three-year, $30 million deal this offseason.
