Atlanta Falcons’ player James Pearce Jr. has received an eight-game suspension for breaching the NFL’s personal conduct policy in the upcoming 2026 season, as confirmed by the league on Friday. Pearce’s suspension stems from an incident involving his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson, leading to his arrest following a domestic altercation in Doral, Florida back in February. The charges against Pearce, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing from the police, resisting arrest, and misdemeanor stalking, may be dropped if he complies with a pretrial intervention program. This program mandates random drug tests, maintaining distance from Jackson, and staying clear of legal issues for a year.
Despite the suspension, Pearce will be eligible to participate in pre-season activities and games until August 30, when his suspension takes effect. He can potentially return on November 2, after the Falcons’ Week 8 match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just before their game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain.
The Falcons’ defensive line faces challenges following Jalon Walker’s season-ending ACL injury. The team now relies on players like Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, Bralen Trice, and newly added Cameron Sample to bolster their pass rush. Pearce, who was picked by Atlanta in a trade during the 2025 draft, significantly contributed to the team last season, leading in sacks with 10 1/2.
In addition to Pearce, the NFL announced suspensions for three other players. Commanders’ Dorance Armstrong received a one-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy, missing the season opener against Philadelphia. Titans’ Nazeeh Johnson faces a six-game suspension for violating the performance-enhancers policy, while Bills’ Phidarian Mathis was issued a three-game suspension for breaching the substances of abuse policy.
Both Johnson and Mathis are permitted to train and play with their teams until August 30 before their respective return dates in October. Johnson, with previous experience with the Kansas City Chiefs, can rejoin the Titans for their game against Cleveland on October 25. Mathis, who previously played for Washington, is set to return for the Bills’ match against New England on October 4.