Overview
- The NFL announced on Aug. 14 that Pearce will serve an eight‑game, unpaid suspension that begins Aug. 30 and removes him from regular‑season play until he is eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 2.
- Pearce declined to appeal the discipline and may participate in preseason practices and games up to the Aug. 30 start date of his suspension.
- The discipline stems from a Feb. 7 arrest in Doral, Florida connected to a domestic incident with then‑girlfriend Rickea Jackson and the criminal case included felony and misdemeanor counts that were later reduced or modified.
- Separately, Pearce has entered a court‑approved pretrial intervention/diversion program that requires counseling, random testing, and no contact with Jackson and could lead to dismissal of charges if he meets its conditions.
- Atlanta’s pass rush will be significantly impacted by Pearce’s absence, which compounds rookie Jalon Walker’s season‑ending ACL tear and forces the Falcons to rely on veteran additions and rotation changes early in the 2026 season.