Jabrill Peppers signs with Steelers after surprising release by Patriots
Veteran safety Jabrill Peppers has found a new home after he was released by the New England Patriots in a surprising move leading up to the team's season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Peppers has agreed to a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That sets up a showdown against his former team, as the Patriots and Steelers play at Gillette Stadium in Week 3.
He will join a Pittsburgh secondary that was in need of help with starting strong safety DeShon Elliott suffering an injury in Week 1 against the Jets.
"Highly familiar with [Peppers], not only with his time as a Cleveland Brown but scouted him heavily when he came out of Michigan," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday, via CBS Sports. "He's a football player first, positional player second. 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."
After Peppers was released by the Patriots, there were reports that his lack of fit in the team's defensive scheme played a party in Mike Vrabel's decision to move on. But the first-year Patriots head coach later said that wasn't the case.
"That was not the issue. We're going to try to do what is best for the team. We have a lot of different schemes we can run in all three phases," Vrabel said. "There is a lot that goes into it, and we are just trying to build toward Sunday. That was a decision we had to make and I wish the best for Jabrill."
Peppers played in 38 games during his tenure in New England, starting 26 of them. He had 178 combined tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
The safety was drafted No. 25 overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2017, then traded to the New York Giants in 2019.
Former Lakers Flameout Could Still Return to NBA In New Update
Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker could still find his way back to the NBA.
After signing a deal with the overseas club Fenerbahce Istanbul from Turkey, Horton-Tucker can still search for an NBA deal before he formally joins the EuroLeague club.
Marc Stein of the Stein Line shared the news in his latest column.
"After six seasons in the NBA, Talen Horton-Tucker has indeed agreed to a deal to play for perennial Turkish power Fenerbahçe.
"Yet the offer, I'm told, came with a 21-day window for Horton-Tucker to continue to search for an NBA deal before formally joining the EuroLeague club.
"Upon hearing about Horton-Tucker's situation, I naturally consulted my trusty pal Keith Smith to get a handle on how many open roster spots there still are leaguewide for full-fledged standard contracts," wrote Stein.
The 24-year-old has a 21-day window to find a new team, and according to Stein, there are plenty of teams that have plenty of room for him, including the Lakers.
LA has one open roster spot for the season, but the chances of the Lakers signing him are bleak.
The former Iowa State Cyclone played the first three seasons of his career with the Lakers and showed flashes of brilliance. However, Horton-Tucker was unable to take the next step in his progression and was ultimately traded to the Utah Jazz prior to the 2022-23 season.
In his tenure, Horton-Tucker averaged 9.3 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 27.6 percent from three in 131 games and 22.1 minutes of action.
Horton spent two seasons with the Jazz before spending one season with the Chicago Bulls last year.
In his only season with Chicago, Horton-Tucker appeared in 58 games, putting up 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.4 steals per contest. He shot 45.7 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from beyond the arc while averaging just 12.5 minutes a night.
As things stand, it's unclear who will make a move on Horton-Tucker. If nothing pans out for him in the NBA, he will have a chance to prove himself overseas.
