The Atlanta Falcons will be without one of their top defensive players for the first half of the 2026 regular season after the NFL announced an eight-game suspension for pass rusher James Pearce Jr.

The league disciplined Pearce for violating its personal conduct policy following an offseason legal matter stemming from a February incident involving his former girlfriend. Pearce will be eligible to participate in training camp and preseason games before being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list ahead of the regular season, and he will not be eligible to return until after Atlanta’s eighth game. 

The suspension, although not surprising, comes after Pearce entered a diversion program to resolve felony charges connected to the February incident. Under the terms of that agreement, Pearce must successfully complete the program in order to have the charges dismissed, but the NFL conducted its own review under the league’s personal conduct policy and determined that an eight-game unpaid suspension was appropriate. Pearce will forfeit eight game checks and will not be permitted to have contact with coaches or teammates during the suspension.

The loss, however, is a significant blow to an Atlanta defense that was counting on Pearce to build off an impressive rookie season. 

For the Falcons, the suspension creates another challenge as they prepare for the 2026 season under head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Atlanta entered the year hoping its young defensive front would become one of the team’s biggest strengths, but it will now have to navigate the opening eight games without its leading sack producer from a year ago. Pearce is scheduled to return midway through the season, and the Falcons will hope that once he is eligible, he can rejoin the defense and provide the same type of impact that made him one of the league’s most promising young pass rushers during his rookie campaign.