The NFL has announced that Atlanta Falcons’ James Pearce Jr., a key edge rusher, will face an eight-game suspension at the start of the 2026 season due to a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. Pearce’s suspension stems from an arrest made in February following a domestic altercation with his former girlfriend and WNBA player, Rickea Jackson, in Doral, Fla.
To potentially have his charges dropped, Pearce must comply with a pretrial intervention program that includes random drug testing, maintaining distance from Jackson, and staying clear of legal issues for a year. Until the suspension commences on August 30, Pearce will be allowed to participate in preseason games and team activities. He can be reinstated on November 2 after the Falcons’ Week 8 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just before their match against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain.
The Falcons’ defensive line has faced setbacks with Jalon Walker’s season-ending ACL injury, leaving players like Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice to step up. Following Walker’s injury, Cameron Sample was added to the team. Pearce, who was selected by the Falcons in a trade during the 2025 draft, significantly impacted the team’s pass rush by leading with 10 1/2 sacks in his rookie season.
In addition to Pearce, the NFL imposed suspensions on three other players. Dorance Armstrong of the Commanders received a one-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy, causing him to miss their season opener against Philadelphia on September 13. Armstrong, now in his third season with Washington, had limited play last season due to a knee ligament tear.
Tennessee Titans’ safety Nazeeh Johnson faced a six-game suspension for violating the performance-enhancing substances policy, while Buffalo Bills’ defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis received a three-game suspension for breaching the substances of abuse policy. Both players are eligible to return to their respective teams after serving their suspensions. Johnson, who recently joined the Titans, has previous experience with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Mathis played for Washington before joining the Bills.
