Patriots rule out S Jabrill Peppers vs. Dolphins

The New England Patriots downgraded safety Jabrill Peppers from questionable to out on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins because of a shoulder injury.

Peppers did not practice on Wednesday and was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday.

New England (1-3) also could be thin at the position against visiting Miami (1-3) because their other starting safety, Kyle Dugger, didn't practice all week due to an ankle injury and is listed as questionable.

The Patriots could look to veteran reserves Jaylinn Hawkins and Brenden Schooler as well as undrafted rookie Dell Pettus for safety help. Safety Marte Mapu was limited at practice this week because of a calf issue and also is listed as questionable.

Peppers, who turned 29 on Friday, has started all four games and has 23 tackles, one interception and two passes defended.

In his eighth season, Peppers has 494 career tackles with 28 tackles for loss, 5.5 acks, seven interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), five forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries in 97 games (83 starts).

The Cleveland Browns selected Peppers in the first round (25th overall) out of Michigan in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has played for the Browns (2017-18), New York Giants (2019-21) and Patriots.

Dugger, 28, has 20 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble in starting all four games this season.

The Patriots picked him in the second round of the 2020 draft. He has 363 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, nine interceptions (two returned for TDs), 21 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 65 games (56 starts).

--Field Level Media