Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2026 NFL season after the league found that he violated its personal-conduct policy. The NFL announced the decision Friday, August 14, with the Falcons also confirming the suspension. Pearce will be allowed to play in preseason games, but his regular-season suspension begins August 30. He is expected to return for Atlanta’s Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid on November 8.
The decision comes after felony charges linked to a February domestic dispute involving his former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
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.
Pearce agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program in April, according to the NFL.
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. 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.
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.
