Atlanta Falcons’ James Pearce Jr., a prominent edge rusher, has been handed an eight-game suspension for the 2026 season due to a breach of the league’s personal conduct regulations, as confirmed by the league on Friday. The suspension stems from Pearce’s involvement in a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson, resulting in his arrest in February in Doral, Fla.
To avoid prosecution, Pearce must comply with a pretrial intervention program involving random drug tests, maintaining distance from Jackson, and staying clear of legal issues for one year. Pearce is permitted to participate in pre-season games and team activities until the suspension begins on Aug. 30. He is eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 2, following the Falcons’ Week 8 clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, just before their game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain.
The Falcons’ defensive line has faced setbacks with Jalon Walker’s season-ending ACL injury, leaving Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice as the core group. The team also acquired Cameron Sample following Walker’s setback. Pearce, selected in the first round of the 2025 draft after a trade to the No. 26 pick, played a pivotal role in enhancing the Falcons’ pass rush, leading the team with 10 1/2 sacks in his debut season.
In addition to Pearce, the NFL announced suspensions for three other players on the same day. Dorance Armstrong of the Commanders received a one-game suspension for breaching the personal conduct policy, sidelining him for the season opener against Philadelphia. Armstrong, entering his ninth NFL season and third with Washington, recently returned to practice after a knee injury limited his appearances last season.
Tennessee Titans’ safety Nazeeh Johnson was suspended for six games due to a violation of performance-enhancing substances policy, while Buffalo Bills’ defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis received a three-game suspension for infringing the league’s substances of abuse policy. Both players are permitted to practice and compete until Aug. 30, after which decisions on their roster statuses will be made. Johnson is slated for a return on Oct. 25, playing against Cleveland, while Mathis can come back on Oct. 4 for the game against New England. Johnson, with previous experience at Kansas City Chiefs, joined the Titans in July, while Mathis, aged 28, played for Washington before joining the Bills last season.