Atlanta Falcons’ edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has been handed an eight-game suspension for breaching the NFL’s personal conduct policy, as per the league’s recent announcement. The suspension stems from Pearce’s arrest in February after an altercation with his former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson, in Doral, Florida.
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. He remains eligible to participate in pre-season activities and games until the suspension begins on August 30. Pearce’s reinstatement is scheduled for November 2 after the Falcons’ Week 8 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a subsequent match against the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain.
The Falcons’ defensive lineup faces challenges with Jalon Walker’s season-ending ACL injury. The team now relies on Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, and Bralen Trice, with Cameron Sample’s addition post-Walker’s injury.
Aside from Pearce, three other players received suspensions from the NFL. Commanders’ Dorance Armstrong faces a one-game suspension, Titans’ Nazeeh Johnson a six-game suspension for performance-enhancer violations, and Bills’ Phidarian Mathis a three-game suspension for substances of abuse policy breaches.
Armstrong, who is in his ninth NFL season and third with Washington, will miss the season opener against Philadelphia. Johnson, with previous experience at the Kansas City Chiefs, can return for the Titans’ game against Cleveland on October 25, while Mathis, who played with the Bills and Washington, is set to resume against New England on October 4.