NFL suspends Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. for eight games
James Pearce Jr. will miss the first eight games of the 2026 season after the NFL said he violated its personal conduct policy.
The NFL has suspended Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. for eight games, the league said Friday, after finding he violated its personal conduct policy. The ban will keep him out at the start of the 2026 season.
Pearce, a former Tennessee standout, was arrested before the league announced the discipline, according to the reports. The suspension was first reported by ESPN and later confirmed in other coverage.
The length of the punishment means Pearce will not be available for nearly half of the regular season. The league did not provide additional details in the material reviewed about the conduct case or any appeal.
Pearce joined the Falcons after his college career at Tennessee, where he was one of the program's top defensive players. The NFL's personal conduct policy covers off-field behavior and can lead to suspensions when violations are found.
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