The New England Patriots originally kept former safety Jabrill Peppers on the 53-man roster after NFL cutdown day, but deciding to release the player just a day after finalizing the roster.
Peppers’ release sparked some questions from fans, asking why the team would keep the safety on the roster before releasing the player just a day later.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots released Peppers due to not fitting the scheme of head coach Mike Vrabel and new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams.
“The Patriots are prioritizing a different style of play from their safeties than what former coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo valued at that position. That’s the short answer as to why starter-turned-backup Jabrill Peppers was released Friday,” Reiss wrote.
The Patriots opted to use rookie safety Craig Woodson and six-year player Jaylinn Hawkins as the team’s starting safeties in the season opener.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the former Patriots DB has agreed to a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jabrill Peppers’ Signing Comes At Crucial Time
GettyPittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliot
The Pittsburgh Steelers needed another defensive back on their roster after starting safety DeShon Elliot was injured in the season opener against the New York Jets.
Elliot suffered a knee injury and has been ruled out in the Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has praised Peppers, scouting the player back in his collegiate days.
“He’s a football player first, a positional player second,” Tomlin said, via the Steelers website. “He’s displayed position flexibility over the course of his career at either safety position, at run-down nickel. He’s been a capable guy in the special teams space over the course of his career, covering kicks, returning punts.”
“He’s just a good, well-rounded football player. So glad to add and have him in the fold. We’ll see how we divide the labor up as we get into the week.”
Reunion In Foxborough
GettyNew England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel
Jabrill Peppers was going to enter his fourth season with the organization before his release. During his three seasons, the safety logged 178 tackles, 10 pass deflections and 3 interceptions in Foxborough.
It won’t take long before Peppers finds himself back in the New England area, as the Pittsburgh Steelers will play against the Patriots in Week 3 of the season.
Regarding how DeShon Elliot heals from his knee injury and how quickly the Peppers get adjusted to the Steelers’ defensive scheme, Peppers could receive a lot of snaps against his former team.
Peppers put out a tweet after his release, mentioning that he has had seven head coaches and six defensive coordinators during his nine years in the league, saying, “There is no scheme you can place me in where I won’t find a way to be effective.”
The former Patriots defender has the opportunity to show that he can excel in a new defense in less than two weeks before their Week 3 matchup.
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