NFL Suspends Falcons Star James Pearce Jr. For 8 Games

The National Football League has suspended Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. for the first eight games of the 2026 regular season for violating the league's personal-conduct policy. The announcement was made on Friday. Pearce was arrested in February in Doral, Florida, near Miami, following a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Following the incident, Pearce faced three felony counts including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence, alongside a misdemeanor count of stalking. In April, Pearce agreed to enter a six-month pretrial intervention program, which includes potential dismissal of the charges if he successfully fulfills all conditions, such as remaining out of legal trouble for one year, maintaining distance from Jackson, and undergoing random drug testing. Under the terms of the league suspension, Pearce remains permitted to participate in all team activities and preseason games through August 30, when NFL franchises are mandated to finalize their official 53-man rosters. The eight-game suspension officially takes effect on August 30. Pearce will be eligible for reinstatement on November 2, immediately following the Falcons' Week 8 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will be eligible to return to play in Week 9, when the Falcons face the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid. The disciplinary action delivers a significant setback to the Atlanta Falcons' defense, which is already managing the loss of fellow edge rusher Jalon Walker, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear during training camp. Following Walker's injury and Pearce's impending absence, the Falcons' pass-rushing depth relies on Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, Br