Atlanta Falcons’ linebacker, James Pearce Jr., has been suspended for the first eight games of the upcoming 2026 season due to a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy, as announced by the NFL on Friday. The suspension stems from an incident in February where Pearce was arrested following a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson in Doral, Florida. Pearce faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police, resisting arrest, and misdemeanor stalking, which could be dropped if he complies with a pretrial intervention program involving random drug tests, maintaining distance from Jackson, and staying out of legal trouble for a year.
Despite the suspension, Pearce will be allowed to participate in pre-season games and team activities until August 30. He is eligible for reinstatement on November 2, after the Falcons’ Week 8 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons will then face the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain.
The Falcons’ defense has suffered setbacks with Jalon Walker’s season-ending ACL injury. The team now relies on players like Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice, with the recent addition of Cameron Sample after Walker’s injury.
In addition to Pearce, the NFL handed out three other suspensions on the same day. Dorance Armstrong of the Commanders received a one-game suspension, Nazeeh Johnson of the Titans was suspended for six games for violating the performance-enhancers policy, and Phidarian Mathis of the Bills received a three-game suspension for violating the substances of abuse policy.
Armstrong, in his ninth NFL season and third with Washington, will miss the Commanders’ season opener against Philadelphia. Johnson, who spent three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, can return for the Titans’ game against Cleveland on October 25, while Mathis is set to return for the Bills’ game against New England on October 4. Johnson and Mathis can continue to practice and play with their teams until the roster deadline on August 30.
