After months of waiting to learn the fate of Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker James Pearce Jr., the NFL has decided to suspend the second-year player for the first eight games of the 2026 NFL season for violating the league's personal conduct policy, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
In February, Pearce Jr. was arrested in Doral, Florida, on two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a count of aggravated stalking. He was also charged with fleeing and eluding police officers, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence to his person.
Pearce Jr. will be eligible to return ahead of Week 9's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, which will take place at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain.
Atlanta Falcons OLB James Pearce Jr. suspended for 8 games
The Falcons traded back into Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft to select Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee, giving up the No. 46 and No. 242 picks that year, plus a 2026 first-rounder (which became the No. 13 pick, which the Los Angeles Rams used to take Alabama QB Ty Simpson) to get Nos. 26 and 101.
During his rookie season, Pearce Jr. played in all 17 games for Atlanta, logging three starts and recording a team-high 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 26 total tackles and five passes defended in 593 defensive snaps.
Atlanta already lost star edge rusher Jalon Walker for the season due to a torn ACL that he suffered during training camp. Now, the Falcons will be without their pair of first-round edge rushers selected just last year, at least for the first eight games of the campaign.
Kevin Stefanski and Jeff Ulbrich will now rely on a defensive end room comprised of Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, Bralen Trice, Cameron Thomas, Keshawn Banks and Cameron Sample to hold it down with Walker sidelined due to injury and Pearce Jr. facing the consequences of his actions.
According to Falcons.com, Pearce Jr.'s suspension "will take effect on Sunday, August 30, which is also the deadline for teams to reduce their rosters to the 53-man limit for the regular season. The timing of Pearce's suspension means he can participate in Atlanta's preseason games and all other team activities."
It remains unclear if Stefanski plans on playing the 22-year-old outside linebacker during the Falcons' preseason slate, which begins Friday night at home against the Denver Broncos. Atlanta will travel to play the Colts and the Dolphins in the next two weeks to round out the exhibition slate.
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