Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2026 NFL season due to a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The league made the announcement on Friday, August 14, with the Falcons confirming the suspension.
Pearce will be eligible to participate in preseason games, but his regular-season suspension will commence on August 30. He is anticipated to return for the Falcons’ Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid on November 8.
This decision follows felony charges related to a domestic dispute involving his former girlfriend, Rickea Jackson, a WNBA player, that occurred in February.
Pearce agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program in April, according to the NFL. The program requires him to stay away from Jackson, attend therapy and avoid further trouble. The charges can be dropped if he completes the program’s conditions. The NFL’s eight-game suspension is separate from the criminal case. The league made its own decision under its personal-conduct policy, and the suspension is final, meaning Pearce will not appeal it.
The ban applies to the 2026 regular season and begins on August 30, meaning Pearce can take part in Atlanta Falcons preseason games before then.
His attorney, Yale Sanford, said Pearce has “taken responsibility for his mental health” after the incident. “His eyes have been opened, and he will continue to learn and grow and be a better person,” Sanford told The Athletic in April. However, the time away from football could make his return harder. Under the NFL’s suspension rules, Pearce cannot be inside the team building during the first part of the suspension , except to meet with a team clinician for mental health services. Later, he can attend meetings and work with strength coaches, but he still cannot practice. “He understands the ramifications of what just occurred. He knows what was on the line here. As a human being, he understands that he’s in a much better place. James Pearce Jr. is eligible to play in the NFL preseason despite his eight-game suspension.
