Atlanta Falcons’ linebacker James Pearce Jr. will face an eight-game suspension at the start of the 2026 season for breaching the NFL’s personal conduct policy, as announced by the league on Friday. Pearce found himself in legal trouble in February after an altercation with his former girlfriend, Rickea Jackson, a WNBA player, in Doral, Florida.
The charges against Pearce, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, evading law enforcement, resisting arrest, and misdemeanor stalking, could be dismissed if he complies with a pretrial intervention program. This program mandates random drug testing, maintaining a distance from Jackson, and staying clear of any legal issues for a year.
While he will be allowed to participate in pre-season activities, Pearce’s suspension will come into effect on August 30. The defensive end, in his second year, can potentially return on November 2, after the Falcons’ Week 8 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just in time for their upcoming match against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain.
The Falcons’ defense has been impacted by injuries, notably Jalon Walker’s season-ending ACL tear. The team now relies on players like Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice, with the addition of Cameron Sample post-Walker’s injury.
Atlanta traded down to the 26th pick in the first round of the 2025 draft to secure Pearce, who made a significant impact in his rookie season by leading the team with 10 1/2 sacks.
In other news, the NFL also handed out suspensions to three other players on Friday. Commanders’ Dorance Armstrong received a one-game suspension for a personal conduct policy violation, causing him to miss the season opener against Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Titans’ Nazeeh Johnson faces a six-game suspension for violating performance-enhancing substances policy, and Bills’ Phidarian Mathis received a three-game suspension for contravening the league’s substances of abuse policy.
The players can continue to practice and play with their teams until August 30, when teams must finalize their 53-player rosters. Johnson becomes eligible to return for the Titans’ game against Cleveland on October 25, while Mathis can rejoin Buffalo for their matchup against New England on October 4.
Johnson, with three seasons of experience in the NFL, previously played for the Kansas City Chiefs before signing with the Titans in late July. Mathis, aged 28, appeared in six games with the Bills last season after spending his initial seasons with Washington.