Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. active in Madrid after suspension
The gist
Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was active Sunday against the Bengals in Madrid after an eight-game suspension.
His return adds a 10.5-sack rookie to Atlanta's pass rush midseason.
How it unfolded
- Feb 7, 2026Pearce was arrested after a domestic dispute with then-girlfriend Rickea Jackson; police said he allegedly rammed his vehicle into her car several times near a Doral, Florida, police station, fled, crashed and fled on foot.
- Feb 8, 2026Pearce was released from a county correctional center after paying a $20,500 bond.
- Mar 12, 2026The Miami-Dade State Attorney brought four charges: three felonies (aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, resisting an officer with violence) and a misdemeanor stalking count.
Key terms
- edge rusher
- A defensive position in gridiron football, an alternate term for a pass-rushing defensive end or outside linebacker.
- sacks
- A tackle of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before a forward pass is thrown.
- 53-man roster
- A group of players signed by a gridiron football team but not on the main roster, used for practice and player development.
Source: Wikipedia