The NFL has suspended Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. for eight games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, Yankee Scores reports
Breaking: Falcons DE James Pearce Jr. is being suspended eight regular-season games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, a source tells @AdamSchefter.
Pearce was arrested in February after a domestic dispute involving his ex-girlfriend, Chicago Sky forward Rickea… pic.twitter.com/qdFQXTpTrW
— ESPN (@espn) August 14, 2026
The ban followed his February arrest in Doral, Florida after a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
Pearce initially faced three felony counts: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence. A separate felony stalking charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor, and a charge of battery on a law enforcement officer was dropped altogether.
He began a six-month pretrial intervention program in the spring that could still lead to the charges being dismissed if all conditions are met.
The suspension officially takes effect August 30, meaning Pearce remains eligible to participate in Atlanta’s preseason slate. He won’t be eligible back until November 2, which is the same day the Falcons play the Bengals in Madrid in Week 9.
Pearce accepted the punishments without appeal, with the NFL saying the eight games are final.
This incident is terrible timing for Atlanta defense. Fellow young pass rusher Jalon Walker, the team’s first-round pick a year ago, is already finished for the season after tearing his ACL in training camp.
That leaves the Falcons hoping for Cameron Thomas and Brandon Dorlus to step up and fill the void up front until Pearce can return to the lineup in November.
