Atlanta Falcons EDGE James Pearce Jr. has been suspended for eight games for a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Pearce, 22, will be eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 2.
In February, Pearce was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of aggravated stalking, as well as fleeing and eluding police officers, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence to his person.
He reached an agreement with prosecutors to where if he completed a pre-trial intervention program and kept out of legal trouble, all charges would be dismissed.
Taken with the 26th overall pick out of Tennessee in 2025, Pearce was a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2025. He appeared in all 17 games last season, recording 26 tackles and 10.5 sacks.
The Falcons open up their 2026 season on Sept. 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The first game in which Pearce might be able to play is a Nov. 8 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
