FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers found himself back in the spotlight as the NFL has officially removed him from the commissioner’s exempt list.

This comes after he pleaded not guilty to charges related to an alarming incident in October, which includes serious allegations of strangulation and drug possession.

The NFL released a statement confirming that while Peppers can now participate fully in team activities, the league’s preliminary investigation into the October incident will continue unabated.

"The change in Peppers' roster status does not affect the ongoing review," the statement emphasized.

Now that he’s eligible to play, the pressure mounts for Peppers as he prepares for a jury trial set for January 22, following a pretrial hearing in Quincy, Massachusetts.

During this hearing, Jabrill’s attorney revealed that the safety had previously rejected a hefty demand of $10.5 million from the plaintiff, which raises many eyebrows and questions about the character of this case.

The attorney, Marc Brofsky, described the plaintiff’s demand as "highly probative" in revealing the underlying issues of the case, although he insisted that it was not extortion.

In contrast, the plaintiff’s legal representatives stated that the $10.5 million proposal was never made to secure silence on a civil case.

They clarified their settlement proposal involved an apology from Peppers, a donation to a domestic abuse support group, and a commitment to counseling, but it was not tied to a dollar amount seeking to prevent legal action.

Peppers was initially placed on the exempt list after his arrest on October 7, following a domestic disturbance reported at his residence.

According to police reports, the situation escalated severely, leading to multiple charges for Peppers, including assault and battery and possession of a Class B substance.

The alleged victim accused Peppers of inflicting physical harm, detailing a disturbing assault that involved choking and physical intimidation.

However, Peppers’ legal team claims to have evidence refuting these accusations, showcasing that the alleged victim only had a minor scrape on her knee, casting doubt on her more serious claims of injury.

The relationship between Peppers and the woman in question, described as "on and off" for about three years, adds another layer of complexity to the case.

After his arraignment, Peppers posted a $2,500 bail and was mandated to stay away from her.

The Patriots’ first-year head coach, Jerod Mayo, addressed the sensitive issue of domestic violence on October 9, asserting the team's zero tolerance stance and expressing hope for a fair resolution.

"As a father of three daughters, I understand the seriousness of the allegations," Mayo stated at the time.

As the January trial looms, the question on everyone’s mind is how this will impact the Patriots' season.

With Peppers being a team captain and now entering his eighth NFL season, the Patriots rely heavily on his experience and leadership.

Will he be able to shake off the distractions and perform at a high level, or will the shadows of these allegations impact his game and the team’s dynamics?

Only time will tell as both the legal and sporting arenas await further developments.