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New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers enters this 2025 NFL campaign with a bit of a renewed hunger, not only to re-establish himself as one of the better players at his position in the league, but to finally put together a winning season for the first time in his career.
Since being selected in the first round of the 2017 draft, Peppers has had his fair share of adversity. His rookie season was with the infamous 0-16 Cleveland Browns, after which he found his way to the New York Giants, where he logged only 10 wins across three years on the team. He then headed to New England, where he now finds himself climbing up a similarly steep slope to get to the top of the NFL mountain.
With those trials and tribulations for Peppers also came some valuable experience, which is part of the message he's conveyed to the team through the Patriots OTAs on what it takes to build those habits of being an aspired winner.
"I ain't ever had a winning season, so I'll be the first one to tell you I'm tired of that," Peppers said during Wednesday's practice." But it starts with the little things. You've got to eliminate bad football. You've got to be fundamentally sound. You've got to play to your identity. There's going to be adversity year in and year out, and typically, the closest teams– they overcome that adversity."
Peppers was limited to only six games through the 2024 season, but the Patriots saw a good bit of bad football amid their four-win campaign.
Even during Peppers' time under Belichick for two years, New England had the wheels already falling off from the winning culture previously put together, with only 11 victories throughout those final two seasons.
Despite being one of the better safety talents in the NFL, Peppers' time in the league hasn't translated to much success in the way of winning football games. But now, for the year ahead, there seems to be a renewed sense of optimism in the building for what 2025 could hold.
The coaching staff is vastly different, an assortment of new veterans have been added through free agency, and with another year of adding fresh young talent while developing the already-budding young guys on the roster, there is a world where this Patriots regime starts off red-hot, and in turn, gets Peppers to reach that long-awaited winning season.
Time will tell if all of the moving pieces of this offseason click to make that leap happen for the Patriots, but for Peppers, it all starts with building small.
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Buffalo Bills receive devastating news on injured rookie CB
Not the news Buffalo Bills fans wanted to hear. Head Coach Sean McDermott delivered a troubling update on Dorian Strong during a Tuesday afternoon press conference, pointing toward a long-term absence for the Bills’ rookie cornerback. The sixth-round pick has been dealing with a neck injury which led to his placement on Injured Reserve on Oct. 4, and entering Week 10, McDermott says that Strong has not received an encouraging update regarding his ailment. “I do have some more clarity, it’s not good in terms of the reports and everything,” said McDermott. “I don’t want to get into where it may go. It’s not moving in the direction we would like it to at this point. I’ll stop there just out of respect for Dorian.” Strong was selected by the Bills with the 177th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and went on to earn the start in the first game of his NFL career in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens in place of injured veteran Tre’Davious White. Strong played in each of the Bills’ first four games of the season, but was injured before Buffalo’s Week 5 matchup against the New England Patriots and it now appears he has been lost for the year. The next question is, will this injury impact his career? Neck injuries are tricky and often dealt with conservatively. “He and I have had some conversations over the last few days and I wish the reports were better at this point,” added McDermott. Strong recorded 10 tackles during four games in his first professional season. — Sign up for OnSI’s Free Buffalo Bills Newsletter —
NFL insider finally reveals Commanders' trade deadline plan fans begged for
Adam Peters should have clarity about what needs to be done before the 2025 trade deadline. The Washington Commanders are in the midst of a lost season, and the severe injury problems are piling up. It's a far cry from offseason expectations, so the strategy must shift accordingly. Now is the time for the general manager to offload some assets. And time is of the essence. It's a fine line between finding the right deal and leaving the Commanders too short. They are already thin on the ground after being decimated by countless health problems across the roster. At the same time, getting younger is imperative. That means giving less experienced players a chance to shine while also accumulating more draft picks. Commanders are reportedly looking to trade several players before the deadline According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Peters is starting to put the wheels in motion. The Commanders are reportedly receptive to trading several players before the November 4 cut-off point. He mentioned Andrew Wylie and Nick Allegretti specifically, but there could be more. Sources: The Commanders have been open to trading several players, including OL Andrew Wylie and OL Nick Allegretti, both of whom bring extensive starting and playoff experience. Wylie has valuable position flexibility, having played both guard spots and right tackle during his career.Jordan Schultz Some fans might not like it, but this is the correct approach. There is no point in Peters burying his head in the sand; that's not his style. Recognizing the Commanders' predicament for what it is and taking the action needed is only going to help in the long run. Teams are always looking to bolster their offensive line depth. Wylie and Allegretti are Super Bowl winners who can play several positions along the protection. It's not hard to see why there might be a market, especially for Washington's two-year starter at right tackle. Wylie is the more dependable performer, and he's also out of contract in 2026. Allegretti's contract doesn't run out until 2027, so teams might be reluctant to take on that extra year. But Peters will listen to all offers, aside from a select few he thinks can be a legitimate part of the team's future. There isn't much time to negotiate. These things can take time, but they can also be quick deals if there is mutual interest for an amicable arrangement from both sides. Peters has negotiated plenty of trades since assuming charge of Washington's front office, but whether any interest arrives is another matter. Time will tell, and Commanders fans won't have to wait long for something to get confirmed one way or another.
Steelers Are Now Signing Aaron Rodgers Former Big Play Target
The Pittsburgh Steelers were said to be signing veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling ahead of the team's Week 9 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, but the signing never officially happened as the receiver wanted to see if there were any other opportunities around the league. Valdez-Scantling would probably be on Pittsburgh's practice squad to start with, and he was likely trying pursue an active roster spot. The wait is up, as the veteran was in Pittsburgh on Monday to officially sign. It was announced after Valdes-Scantling worked out with Pittsburgh last Monday that he would sign in Pittsburgh at some point during the week, but that never happened as he pursued other opportunities. He couldn't find a better option, so now he is signing in Pittsburgh to reunite with his former quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The signed was initially reported by Jeremy Fowler. This signing is clearly interesting because of the existing relationship between Rodgers and Valdes-Scantling. The two played together for quite some time while they were both with the Green Bay Packers, and that makes signing the veteran more intriguing as it won't be as much of a "moving train" to jump on due to the existing chemistry with the quarterback.
3 key Buffalo Bills' players nearing return from injury
Sean McDermott delivered some good news as he met the media the day following the Buffalo Bills’ significant Week 9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bills were without several key contributors due to injuries sustained by various players in the weeks leading up to the matchup with the Chiefs, but a few of those who are ailing may be nearing a return. McDermott revealed on Monday that defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf), wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle/knee) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring) will all return to the practice field this week, with each player displaying signs of improvement. Palmer and Thompson each participated in practice limitedly a week ago, but Jones was held out all week. Jones has missed the Bills’ past three games after he “popped his calf” during pregame warm-ups leading up to a Week 7 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. Palmer has also missed two straight games after he was injured during the game against Atlanta. Thompson missed this past week’s game against the Chiefs, the second game he has missed this season. The Bills are hurting along the defensive line, with utility pass rusher Michael Hoecht being declared out for the season after he was placed on Injured Reserve due to a torn Achilles, per McDermott. Jones’ return would be a major boost for an undermanned unit, which benefited from his services early in the year. Thompson has been the Bills’ best linebacker this season, but Buffalo saw the return of both Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard this past week, which lessened the blow caused by his absence. Without Jones and Thompson, the Bills’ defense performed well against the Chiefs, limiting them to 3 for 13 on third-down opportunities and just 305 total yards, their second-lowest yardage output this season. Still, Buffalo would welcome both players back into the fold, as their early-season contributions helped the team ride through some rough patches. Palmer’s absence hurt an already reeling Bills’ wide receiving corps, which has struggled to produce outside of what has come from Khalil Shakir this season. If the Bills fail to land a wide receiver at the trade deadline, his contributions will become increasingly critical down the stretch. The Bills return to the practice field on Wednesday before taking on the Dolphins on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Miami. — Sign up for OnSI’s Free Buffalo Bills Newsletter —
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