In a surprising development, Jabrill Peppers has been reinstated to the NFL and will be allowed to return to the Patriots this week.

On Monday, the NFL announced that the league was removing Peppers Commissioner Exempt List.

The Patriots safety was placed on that list after being arrested and  charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation or suffocation, possession of a Class B drug (cocaine), and assault and battery on a family or household member. Last week, it was announced that the trial for Peppers was set for January 2025.

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Those charges were why Peppers was placed on the exempt list on Oct 9. That made it so the captain couldn’t practice, play or attend games. Now, the NFL announced Pepper is “eligible to participate in all team activities, including playing in games.”

The NFL statement read: “In accordance with the Personal Conduct Policy, the league initiated a preliminary investigation into an incident from early October. That review will remain ongoing and is not affected by this change in Peppers’ roster status. “

Peppers, 29, came to the Patriots in 2022 and made an immediate impact on the defense. In 2023, he started every game played, finishing with 78 tackles to go with two interceptions, eight passes defended, and a sack. This year, Peppers was named a team captain for the first time. He started the Patriots first four games, totaling 23 tackles to go with an interception and two pass breakups.

Peppers has been one of the Patriots best defensive players. However, on Oct. 5, Braintree police were called to Peppers’ apartment around 4:25 a.m. for a domestic dispute. A woman told police Peppers hit her, choked her, took off her clothes, and put them outside. Peppers disputed this report, telling police the woman “fell by herself on the stairs because she was intoxicated.”

Last week, Peppers attorney, Marc Alan Brofsky, said the victim sent a letter “demanding $10.5 million to settle this case, or else she would file a civil suit.” The woman’s lawyers refuted that saying they presented a proposal that did include “a monetary payment for our client’s pain and suffering.”

Without Peppers, the Patriots have relied on younger safeties Marte Mapu and Dell Pettus, along with Jaylinn Hawkins, to fill the void next to Kyle Dugger. If Peppers returns to the Patriots, it would be a big boost to the defense.