Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has been suspended for the first eight games of the upcoming NFL season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The NFL announced the suspension on Friday, following an incident involving his former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
Pearce was arrested in February after a domestic dispute with Jackson in Doral, Florida. He faced charges including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence.
What Led to James Pearce Jr.’s Eight-Game NFL Suspension?
James Pearce Jr. has been handed an eight-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy following his February arrest in Doral, Florida. The Atlanta Falcons edge rusher will be allowed to participate in preseason activities, but his suspension begins on August 30 and will keep him out of the first eight regular-season games without pay. He can be reinstated on November 2 after Atlanta’s Week 8 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The case stems from a February 7 incident involving Pearce’s former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Police alleged that Pearce used his vehicle to repeatedly hit Jackson’s car during a domestic dispute and attempted to prevent her from reaching a police station. He later fled, crashed his vehicle and resisted arrest, leading to felony charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police and resisting an officer, along with a misdemeanor stalking charge. Jackson also sought a protective order before later withdrawing it after Pearce entered a legal program.
Pearce entered a pretrial intervention program in May, under which the charges can be dropped if he stays out of trouble for a year, passes random drug tests and has no contact with Jackson. While the agreement allowed him to avoid a criminal trial, it did not prevent the NFL from imposing discipline under its personal conduct policy. His absence is also a major blow for Atlanta, which recently lost Jalon Walker for the season with an ACL injury
Other NFL Suspensions and Disciplinary Actions
James Pearce Jr. was among several players suspended by the NFL on Friday. Washington Commanders edge rusher Dorance Armstrong received a one-game ban under the league’s personal conduct policy and will miss the team’s season opener against Philadelphia on September 13. Tennessee Titans safety Nazeeh Johnson was suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy, while Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis received a three-game suspension under the league’s substances of abuse policy.
All three players can continue practicing and participating with their teams until August 30, when rosters must be finalized. Johnson, who joined Tennessee after three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, is eligible to return against Cleveland on October 25. Mathis can return for Buffalo’s October 4 matchup with New England. Armstrong, entering his ninth NFL season and third with Washington, had played only seven games last season before suffering a knee ligament injury.
