FOXBOROUGH — Jabrill Peppers wakes up feeling explosive.
Some 20 months after surgery to repair a ruptured ACL, the hard-hitting Patriots safety now pops out of bed every day ready to go.
“Man, it just feels good to be healthy. You wake up, no pain in the morning, you can get out of bed, do your thing,” the 27-year-old Peppers said after Tuesday’s minicamp practice. “I feel fast again, but I’m still a long ways away. You know, they say it’s a two-three-year injury before you’re fully, fully healed.”
One of the most active and noticeable players during the club’s on-field workouts this spring, the seven-year veteran has been lining up and making his presence felt from a variety of spots as he prepares to expand his defensive roles.