Atlanta Falcons’ defensive player James Pearce Jr. has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2026 season due to a breach of the league’s personal conduct policy, as per the league’s declaration on Friday. Pearce faced legal trouble in February following a domestic altercation with his former girlfriend, WNBA athlete Rickea Jackson, in Doral, Florida. His charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing from law enforcement, resisting arrest, and misdemeanor stalking, may be dismissed if he complies with a pretrial intervention program involving random drug screenings, maintaining a distance from Jackson, and staying clear of legal issues for a year.
Until the suspension takes effect on August 30, Pearce can participate in pre-season matches and all team events. He is eligible for reinstatement on Monday, November 2, following the Falcons’ Week 8 away game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just before their match against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain. The Falcons’ defense has been impacted by Jalon Walker’s ACL injury, leaving Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice in the pass rush lineup. Atlanta also acquired Cameron Sample post-Walker’s injury.
In the 2025 draft, Atlanta moved down to the 26th pick in the first round to pick Pearce, who had a significant impact on the team’s pass rush, leading with 10 1/2 sacks in his debut season. Pearce was one of four NFL players suspended on Friday, alongside Commanders’ Dorance Armstrong, Titans’ Nazeeh Johnson, and Bills’ Phidarian Mathis. Armstrong received a one-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, missing the Commanders’ season opener against Philadelphia on September 13. Johnson was suspended for six games due to a performance-enhancing substances violation, while Mathis received a three-game suspension for breaching the league’s substances of abuse policy.
According to league regulations, these players can continue practicing and playing with their teams until August 30, when NFL teams are mandated to finalize their 53-player rosters. Johnson is set to return for the Titans’ home game against Cleveland on October 25, while Mathis can make a comeback for Buffalo’s home game against New England on October 4. Johnson, who previously played for the Kansas City Chiefs, joined the Titans on July 27 and has faced injuries in past seasons. Mathis, aged 28, played for Washington before joining the Bills, appearing in a total of six games last season.