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The NFL suspended Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. for eight games without pay under the personal-conduct policy, the league announced Friday. Pearce faces felony charges stemming from a domestic dispute in February.
Per the league, the decision is final, and Pearce will not appeal. He is eligible to play in preseason games — beginning with Friday night’s opener against the Denver Broncos — before the suspension begins Aug. 30. Pearce will be reinstated on Nov. 2 and will be eligible to play Nov. 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid.
The Falcons declined to comment.
James Pearce Jr. faces long road ahead with eight-game suspension
Josh Kendall
Pearce’s status with the team had been in question since a February incident with former girlfriend Rickea Jackson that resulted in three felony charges — for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing the police and resisting an officer with violence — being filed against him. According to an arrest affidavit filed in the case, Pearce followed Jackson’s car for an extended period, intentionally collided with both her front and rear bumpers and attempted to block her access to a Doral (Fla.) police department building.
The charges will be dropped if Pearce completes a 12-month pretrial intervention program in Florida.
Pearce led all rookies with 10.5 sacks last year after being selected by the Falcons in the first round of the 2025 draft. He finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
He did not participate in any of the team’s voluntary spring workouts but did attend minicamp and has been at every training camp practice.
The details of the league’s suspension process make it possible Pearce could miss more than eight games, as he will face limited ramp-up time. For the first half of his suspension period, he can’t be in the team building other than to meet with the team clinician for the sole purpose of receiving mental health services, according to the league’s policy. After that period, Pearce can return to the building, attend team meetings, meet with coaches and work out with strength coaches, but he cannot practice.
Yale Sanford, Pearce’s attorney, said Pearce has “taken responsibility for his mental health” following the incident and expressed confidence that his client can complete the pretrial intervention program.
“His eyes have been opened, and he will continue to learn and grow and be a better person,” Sanford told The Athletic in April. “He understands the ramifications of what just occurred. He knows what was on the line here. As a human being, he understands that he’s in a much better place.”
The terms of the pretrial intervention program require Pearce to stay away from Jackson, undergo therapy and “stay out of trouble,” Sanford said.
The Falcons are already without edge rusher Jalon Walker, the No. 15 pick in 2025, for the 2026 season after he suffered a torn ACL during training camp.