Falcons' James Pearce hit with 8-game suspension as NFL announces wave of bans across the league

A flurry of suspensions was announced by the NFL connected Friday, with James Pearce's eight-game prohibition starring the way.

The Atlanta Falcons borderline rusher has been embroiled successful a home dispute, having been arrested successful February.

Pearce was charged with 3 felonies for his alleged engagement successful a quality with his girlfriend, WNBA subordinate Rickea Jackson. Court documents revealed Pearce was charged with aggravated artillery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding constabulary and resisting an serviceman with unit to his oregon her person.

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Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) against the Arizona Cardinals astatine State Farm Stadium connected Dec. 21, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

Pearce, a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year aft a palmy 2025 play with the Falcons, was arrested adjacent Miami past period aft allegedly fleeing officers and crashing his car aft what constabulary called a home unit incidental with Jackson, a 2024 All-Rookie squad honoree with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Pearce is alleged to person crashed his car into different conveyance being driven by Jackson and struck a constabulary serviceman portion helium tried to fly instrumentality enforcement, ESPN reported, citing a transgression ailment from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office.

Atlanta Falcons borderline James Pearce Jr. (27) reacts aft a antiaircraft halt successful the archetypal 4th against the Carolina Panthers astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected Nov. 16, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

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Jackson told constabulary she noticed Pearce was pursuing her successful a achromatic luxury vehicle, and erstwhile she stopped astatine a reddish light, the Falcons rookie tried to unfastened her car. Jackson said she started to thrust toward the Doral Police Department portion Pearce was allegedly pursuing her. Then, arsenic she got person to the constabulary station, she alleged Pearce chopped her disconnected and collided with her caput on.

An serviceman reportedly pulled a weapon connected Pearce erstwhile Doral authorities responded to the incidental successful an effort to unit him to get connected the ground. However, helium allegedly got backmost into his car and drove away.

Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) warms up anterior to the crippled against the New England Patriots astatine Gillette Stadium connected Nov. 2, 2025. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)

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Three different players were suspended by the NFL connected Friday: Tennessee Titans antiaircraft backmost Nazeeh Johnson, Washington Commanders borderline rusher Dorance Armstrong and Buffalo Bills antiaircraft tackle Phidarian Mathis.

Johnson volition beryllium retired for six games for violating the league's Performance-Enhancing Substances policy. Armstrong volition miss a crippled for violating the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, and Mathis' usurpation of the league's Substances of Abuse argumentation is costing him 3 games.

Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.