ATL James Pearce
NFL edge rusher. Position: DE. Team: Atlanta Falcons.
Quick Facts
- Position: Edge Rusher (DE)
- Team: Atlanta Falcons (ATL)
- Draft Status: 2025 first-round pick
2026 Outlook
Pearce's 2026 season will open with an eight-game suspension after violating the NFL's personal conduct policy following an offseason domestic-violence arrest in February 2026. The 22-year-old 2025 first-round pick was able to participate in all preseason activities, but his suspension begins Week 1 and will keep him sidelined through Week 8, making him eligible for reinstatement in Week 9 against Cincinnati. Pearce was a standout rookie with 10.5 sacks in 2025. His suspension, combined with fellow edge rusher Jalon Walker's ACL tear that will sideline him for the entire 2026 season, creates significant depth issues for Atlanta's pass rush (per James Pearce suspended 8 games by NFL after offseason domestic-violence arrest and NFL suspends Falcons' James Pearce Jr. for 8 games).
Role / Depth Chart
Starting edge rusher (pending recovery from ACL injury).
Discipline Status
8-game suspension (begins Week 1, eligible to return Week 9 vs. Cincinnati). No physical injuries preventing participation. Arrested in February 2026 following a domestic-violence incident; agreed to six-month pre-trial intervention program in April with potential for charges to be dropped if conditions are met.
Recent News
- 2026-08-18 — Za'Darius Smith unretires, signs with Falcons after Jalon Walker injury and James... (Za'Darius Smith unretires, signs with Falcons after Jalon Walker injury and James...)
- 2026-08-14 — NFL suspends Falcons' James Pearce Jr. for first 8 games of 2026 season (NFL suspends Falcons' James Pearce Jr. for first 8 games of 2026 season)
- 2026-08-14 — Falcons' James Pearce hit with 8-game suspension as NFL announces wave of bans across... (Falcons' James Pearce hit with 8-game suspension as NFL announces wave of bans across...)
- 2026-08-15 — NFL hands down four suspensions before preseason action, with Falcons' James Pearce... (NFL hands down four suspensions before preseason action, with Falcons' James Pearce...)
- 2026-08-14 — NFL Suspends 4 Players Friday, Including Falcons Star James Pearce Jr. (NFL Suspends 4 Players Friday, Including Falcons Star James Pearce Jr.)
- 2026-08-14 — Falcons' James Pearce Jr. suspended eight games for violating NFL personal-conduct policy (Falcons' James Pearce Jr. suspended eight games for violating NFL personal-conduct policy)
- 2026-08-14 — NFL suspends James Pearce Jr. for first 8 games of 2026 season (NFL suspends James Pearce Jr. for first 8 games of 2026 season)
- 2026-08-14 — Falcons edge rusher James Pearce suspended 8 games by NFL (Falcons edge rusher James Pearce suspended 8 games by NFL)
- 2026-08-14 — James Pearce suspended 8 games by NFL after offseason domestic-violence arrest (James Pearce suspended 8 games by NFL after offseason domestic-violence arrest)
- 2026-08-14 — NFL suspends Falcons' James Pearce Jr. for 8 games (NFL suspends Falcons' James Pearce Jr. for 8 games)