Atlanta Falcons’ James Pearce Jr., a key edge rusher, will face an eight-game suspension at the start of the 2026 season due to breaching the league’s personal conduct policy, as per the league’s recent announcement on Friday.
Pearce got arrested in February following a domestic altercation with his ex-girlfriend, Rickea Jackson, a WNBA player, in Doral, Fla. The charges against Pearce, which include aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police, resisting arrest, and misdemeanor stalking, could potentially be dropped if he complies with a pretrial intervention program involving random drug testing, maintaining distance from Jackson, and staying out of legal issues for a year.
Until the suspension commences on Aug. 30, Pearce will remain eligible to participate in pre-season games and all team-related activities. He can potentially return on Monday, Nov. 2, following the Falcons’ Week 8 away game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just before their matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain.
The Falcons’ defense has been impacted by recent setbacks, particularly the season-ending ACL injury to Jalon Walker. The remaining pass-rush unit comprises Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice, with the addition of Cameron Sample after Walker’s injury.
In the 2025 draft, Atlanta traded down to the No. 26 pick to secure Pearce, who made a significant impact on the team’s pass rush in his rookie season, leading with 10 1/2 sacks.
In addition to Pearce’s suspension, the NFL also imposed suspensions on three other players on the same day. Dorance Armstrong from the Commanders received a one-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy, causing him to miss the team’s season opener against Philadelphia on Sept. 13.
Furthermore, Tennessee Titans’ Nazeeh Johnson faced a six-game suspension for violating the performance-enhancers policy, while Buffalo Bills’ Phidarian Mathis received a three-game suspension for breaching the substances of abuse policy. Both players are allowed to practice and play with their teams until Aug. 30.
Johnson is set to return for the Titans’ home game against Cleveland on Oct. 25, while Mathis can make a comeback for Buffalo’s home game against New England on Oct. 4. Johnson, with three prior NFL seasons, signed with the Titans in late July, just before the start of training camp.
Mathis, aged 28, played six games with the Bills last season after appearing in 23 games with Washington in his initial three NFL seasons.