Falcons DE James Pearce Jr. Suspended 8 Games for Conduct Violation

The NFL suspended Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. for eight games without pay on Friday, August 14, 2026, for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension stems from a February 7, 2026, domestic violence incident in Doral, Florida, involving his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson.

According to police reports and court documents, Pearce, 22, followed Jackson's vehicle after a dispute. As she attempted to drive to a local police station, Pearce allegedly rammed his Lamborghini SUV into the rear of her car multiple times. When officers arrived and ordered him to the ground, Pearce reportedly refused, re-entered his vehicle, and fled the scene, striking an officer's leg in the process. He led police on a chase before crashing his SUV and attempting to flee on foot, at which point he was apprehended.

Pearce was charged with three felonies: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence. A fourth felony charge of aggravated stalking was later reduced to a misdemeanor. In May, Pearce entered a 12-month pretrial intervention program in Florida, which requires him to stay away from...