"When it's time for a team to narrow their roster down to 53 players, it is expected that there will be some unexpected moves made, especially since the NFL has now limited cuts to just one time in an offseason instead of periodically throughout August. The Patriots were one of those teams making some surprise moves after an offseason filled with plenty of that. The thought going into the final cutdown process was that there weren't many of those kinds of moves left, given who was still on the roster, and it seemed like the final team was easy to predict. And for the most part, that's what happened."
"However, that wasn't the case when it was announced a couple of days later that starting safety Jabrill Peppers was cut virtually without explanation. Mike Vrabel hasn't expanded really at all in the days since, but now that Peppers has signed with the Steelers, we're finally hearing a little bit about what might have been behind the decision. Jabrill Peppers gives subtle answers behind why the Patriots might have released him Although it took a little longer than expected to hear the news that a team signed him, Peppers appears to have joined the perfect team for the next chapter of his NFL career by playing for the Steelers. Patriots fans weren't exactly thrilled about his departure, and it's even worse knowing they'll have to face him in Week 3 when the Steelers come to Gillette. But we're now hearing a little bit about what might have gone into the decision for the Patriots to release him, even if Peppers didn't go into too much detail with his response."
"#Steelers SS Jabrill Peppers on why things didn't work out with the #Patriots this year:"It just is what it is. Sometimes, you're not good enough. You play a long time in this league, you're gonna get traded or cut. ... I'm happy Tomlin made the call." pic.twitter.com/0Og3umb93m- Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) September 10, 2025"
NFL teams now must make final roster cuts once, increasing the impact of each decision. The Patriots made several surprising moves during roster trimming and ultimately released starting safety Jabrill Peppers with little public explanation. Peppers signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers shortly after being cut. Patriots fans reacted negatively, and the teams will meet in Week 3 at Gillette. Peppers acknowledged the release with a terse response, saying cuts happen, sometimes reflecting performance, and expressed appreciation that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made the call. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel provided no significant public explanation in the days after the cut.
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