Atlanta Falcons’ James Pearce Jr., a prominent edge rusher, will face an eight-game suspension at the start of the 2026 season due to a breach of the league’s personal conduct regulations, as declared by the league on Friday. Pearce’s suspension stems from his arrest in February following a domestic altercation with his former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson, in Doral, Fla.
The charges against Pearce include aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing from law enforcement, resisting arrest, and misdemeanor stalking. However, these charges may be dismissed if he complies with a pretrial intervention program, which mandates random drug screenings, maintaining a distance from Jackson, and staying clear of legal issues for one year.
Pearce will be permitted to engage in pre-season matches and team activities until his suspension begins on August 30. He can potentially be reinstated on Monday, November 2, following the Falcons’ Week 8 away game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their subsequent game will be against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain.
The Falcons’ pass rush has faced challenges lately after Jalon Walker’s season-ending ACL injury. The defensive group now comprises Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice, with Cameron Sample joining post Walker’s injury.
In the 2025 draft, Atlanta traded back to the No. 26 pick to secure Pearce, a former Tennessee Volunteer. Pearce made a significant impact in his rookie season, leading the team with 10 1/2 sacks.
Apart from Pearce, the NFL handed out suspensions to three other players on Friday. Commanders’ Dorance Armstrong received a one-game suspension for breaching the personal conduct policy. He will miss the season opener against Philadelphia on September 13. Armstrong, entering his ninth NFL season and third with Washington, had a previous injury that limited his playtime last season.
Titans’ safety Nazeeh Johnson received a six-game suspension for violating performance-enhancing substance regulations, while Bills’ defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis was issued a three-game suspension for breaching substance abuse policies. Both players are eligible to practice and play until August 30, with Johnson’s return set for the Titans’ game against Cleveland on October 25 and Mathis’ return for the Bills’ game against New England on October 4.
Johnson, with three seasons of NFL experience with the Kansas City Chiefs, signed with the Titans in July. He had limited appearances due to injuries in previous seasons. Mathis, a 28-year-old, played six games with the Bills last season after spending his initial NFL years with Washington.