NFL suspends Falcons' James Pearce Jr. 8 games

Key Points:

• Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has been suspended for the first eight games of the season due to violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following his February arrest related to a domestic dispute.
• Pearce faces charges including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police, resisting arrest, and misdemeanor stalking, which could be dropped if he complies with a pretrial intervention program.
• Pearce will participate in preseason activities and games but his suspension begins on August 30, making him eligible to return after Week 8, with the Falcons traveling to Madrid for a game against the Cincinnati Bengals shortly after.
• The Falcons’ pass rush has been weakened by Pearce’s suspension and Jalon Walker’s season-ending ACL injury, leaving the team with a limited group of edge rushers including Christian Harris, JD Bertrand, Samson Ebukam, Kendal Daniels, Bralen Trice, and new addition Cameron Sample.
• Other NFL suspensions announced include Washington’s Dorance Armstrong (one game), Tennessee’s Nazeeh Johnson (six games for performance-enhancing drugs), and Buffalo’s Phidarian Mathis (three games for substance abuse), all allowed to practice until rosters are set on August 30.