NFL suspends Falcons’ James Pearce Jr. 8 games
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. will be suspended for the first eight games of the 2026 season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, the league announced Friday. Pearce was arrested…
The Atlanta Falcons have suspended their first-round draft pick, edge rusher James Pearce Jr., for the first eight games of the 2026 season due to violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension, announced by the NFL, stems from an incident in February where Pearce was arrested following a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
Pearce, who was arrested in Doral, Florida, will be able to participate in preseason games and team activities until the suspension takes effect on August 30, 2025. This is also the date when the 53-man roster for the regular season is finalized. Pearce, a second-year defensive end, can be reinstated on November 2, 2025, following the Falcons' Week 8 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The suspension comes at a time when the team's pass rush has been affected by Jalon Walker's season-ending ACL tear. The Falcons currently have a pass rush consisting of Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice, and have added Cameron Sample after Walker's injury. The team traded back to select Pearce in the 2025 NFL Draft, where the former Tennessee Volunteer led the team with 10.5 sacks in his rookie season.
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