Falcons' James Pearce back from suspension, expected to play

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  Marc RaimondiNov 2, 2026, 07:14 PM ET

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  Marc Raimondi's first year covering the Falcons was 2024, but it wasn't his first year at ESPN. He joined the company in 2019 and was a top combat sports reporter. He also covered professional wrestling and wrote the book "Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling's New World Order Changed America," which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. Raimondi also worked for the New York Post and Newsday, beginning in 2009, covering high school and college sports, plus the NFL, NFL, MLB and NHL.

James Pearce Jr. returned to the Atlanta Falcons' roster Monday after an eight-game league suspension stemming from a February domestic violence arrest.

Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said last week that he plans to play Pearce on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, a game that will take place in Madrid (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network). Stefanski said he is not sure how much Pearce will play in his first game back.

Pearce was suspended by the NFL due to a violation of the personal conduct policy at the end of training camp. He practiced with the team throughout camp. Pearce returned to the Falcons four weeks ago, but could not practice as part of the terms of an NFL suspension. He met individually with coaches and support staff, including a counselor. Pearce is expected to return to practice Wednesday.

"He's done everything that we've asked of him, everything that he's been allowed to do," Stefanski said. "He's done a great job."

Pearce, 23, was arrested Feb. 7 after allegedly ramming his vehicle into his ex-girlfriend and WNBA player Rickea Jackson's car several times near a Doral, Florida, police station. Police responded, and Pearce allegedly fled in his car before crashing and then fleeing on foot.

Pearce was facing felony charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police and resisting arrest, as well as misdemeanor stalking, before entering into a one-year pretrial diversion program that allowed him to avoid trial. Those charges will be dropped if Pearce stays out of trouble for that year period, passes random drug tests and remains compliant with a mental health treatment program.

Jackson filed a petition for a protective order against Pearce in February, and she dropped it in lieu of the intervention program. Pearce must also stay away from Jackson for a year as part of that program.

Pearce had 10.5 sacks as a rookie last season and finished third in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Without him so far this season, the Falcons are seventh in the league in quarterback pressure rate (40%).

Pearce declined to speak with the media during training camp and was prohibited from doing so during his suspension.

The Falcons will get a one-week exemption for Pearce to be on the team's 53-man roster. The team waived linebacker Jared Ivey and defensive end Drake Jackson on Monday, as well.

Stefanski said he doesn't necessarily see any challenge in adding Pearce to a pass-rushing group led by defensive ends Za'Darius Smith and Cameron Thomas and interior defensive linemen Gervon Dexter Sr., Maason Smith and Brandon Dorlus. Stefanski said Monday that defensive end Samson Ebukam (hamstring) will be out Sunday. Smith leads the team with 4.5 sacks.

"I see it as a positive to add a good player to the mix," Stefanski said. "I think the way [defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich] and the defensive staff have constructed this rush plan, obviously married up with the coverage plan, I think it's beneficial to all parties to do your job like you mentioned, but adding another good player to the mix is a good thing."

Ulbrich said he has sat down with Pearce and believes Pearce "is in a great space."

"Got to peek at him working out there," Ulbrich said. "He can't obviously participate with us, but some of the stuff he did physically looks good, looks like he's been working. So excited to get him back. ... Feel like he's in a really good place."