Atlanta Falcons’ James Pearce Jr., a key edge rusher, faces an eight-game suspension for breaching the NFL’s personal conduct policy in the upcoming 2026 season, the league disclosed on Friday.
The suspension stemmed from Pearce’s arrest in February after a domestic altercation with his former girlfriend, Rickea Jackson, a WNBA player, in Doral, Florida. Pearce’s charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police, resisting arrest, and misdemeanor stalking, could be dismissed if he complies with a pretrial intervention program. This program mandates random drug screenings, maintaining distance from Jackson, and staying clear of legal issues for a year.
While Pearce will be eligible for pre-season games and team activities until August 30, his suspension officially begins then. He can seek reinstatement on Monday, November 2, following the Falcons’ Week 8 clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before facing the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain.
The Falcons’ defensive line faces challenges after Jalon Walker’s season-ending ACL injury, leaving them with a lineup featuring Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice. To bolster the roster post-Walker’s injury, Cameron Sample joined the team.
Pearce was part of a group of players suspended by the NFL on Friday. Dorance Armstrong of the Commanders received a one-game suspension for personal conduct policy violation, while Nazeeh Johnson of the Tennessee Titans and Phidarian Mathis of the Buffalo Bills faced suspensions for performance-enhancers and substance abuse policy violations, respectively.
Armstrong, in his ninth NFL season and third with Washington, will miss the Commanders’ opening game against Philadelphia. Johnson, with previous experience at the Kansas City Chiefs, can return for the Titans’ game against Cleveland on October 25. Mathis, who played for Washington before joining Buffalo, is slated to return for the Bills’ match against New England on October 4.