Falcons DE James Pearce Jr. To Be Reinstated From Suspension Next Week

Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. will be reinstated from an eight-game suspension following Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that the team intends to activate Pearce for Week 9, noting that the defensive lineman has accomplished everything requested of him during his time away. Stefanski indicated that Pearce is planned to play next week, though his exact snap count remains undetermined.

Pearce's suspension stemmed from a February incident in Miami involving WNBA player Rickea Jackson, which led to multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after a vehicle collision and subsequent police pursuit. Selected with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, Pearce previously recorded 10.5 sacks across 17 games in his rookie campaign.