The Atlanta Falcons will be without James Pearce Jr. to start the 2026 NFL season, and not for a short stretch. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the second-year pass rusher is facing an eight-game suspension after violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
That’s a major hit for Atlanta, which drafted Pearce Jr. in the first round in 2025 and was counting on him to be one of its most important defensive pieces. Instead, his second pro season is beginning with a lengthy absence tied to off-field issues that have followed him into the league.
Pearce was arrested on Feb. 6 after a domestic dispute involving his former girlfriend and WNBA star Rickea Jackson. According to the source report, police said the encounter included Pearce allegedly ramming his Lamborghini SUV into Jackson’s vehicle in Florida. The charges listed against him included aggravated stalking and battery with a deadly weapon, and the report also says he was accused of evading police officers and aggravated battery of law enforcement.
Jackson, who now plays for the Chicago Sky, later filed for a protective order against Pearce after the incident.
The suspension means Atlanta will have to wait until Nov. 8 to get him back, when the Falcons face the Cincinnati Bengals. Pearce is coming off a rookie season in which he appeared in 17 games, but this latest setback puts a serious damper on what was supposed to be a step forward in Year 2.
Atlanta closes the regular season with three straight NFC South games. Last season, the Falcons finished 8-9 and narrowly missed the playoffs, along with the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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