Photo credit: James Pearce Jr (X)
Atlanta Falcons pass rusher James Pearce Jr. will sit out eight games. The NFL suspended him for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The suspension stems from an arrest earlier this year. It takes effect Aug. 30 and runs through the first eight weeks of the regular season.
What led to the suspension
Pearce was arrested in February in Doral, Florida. The arrest followed an incident involving his then girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Jackson told police she noticed Pearce following her vehicle. She stopped at a red light. He approached her car. She drove off. The complaint states Pearce then pursued her and collided with her vehicle as she tried to reach a nearby police station.
Officers arrived on the scene. Pearce briefly got back into his vehicle before driving off. Police gave chase. The chase ended when he crashed. Officers took him into custody after a short foot pursuit. Prosecutors initially charged Pearce with several felonies. They later reduced one charge and dropped another, leaving him with a smaller set of charges.
Pearce’s legal team issued a statement in March. They said he maintains his innocence. They asked the public not to draw conclusions before all the details were known. Pearce is now working through a pretrial intervention program. Jackson and the officers involved agreed to this arrangement. If Pearce meets its conditions over six months, the remaining charges will be dismissed.
Timing of the suspension
The suspension begins Aug. 30. That means Pearce can play in all of Atlanta’s preseason games. He remains with the team through training camp. He first becomes eligible to return in Week 9, when the Falcons travel to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid.
What it means for the Falcons
The timing adds pressure to an already thin Atlanta pass rush. Fellow rookie edge rusher Jalon Walker tore his ACL in training camp. Atlanta selected him 15th overall in the same draft class, and he will miss the entire season. With both young pass rushers sidelined to start the year, the Falcons will lean on veterans Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, Brandon Dorlus, Cameron Thomas and Bralen Trice. Rookie Harold Perkins Jr. could also see time in a hybrid role.
Pearce had a standout rookie season in 2025. He recorded 10.5 sacks, the most by a Falcons rookie on record. He finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Atlanta selected him with the 26th overall pick after trading back into the first round.
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