Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. will be suspended by the NFL for eight games due to violating the league’s personal conduct policy when he was arrested on domestic violence charges in February, the league announced Friday afternoon.
The league said in a statement that Pearce will be eligible to participate in all preseason activities, including games. His suspension will begin Aug. 30, and he will be eligible to be reinstated Nov. 2. The Falcons play the Denver Broncos at home in their preseason opener Friday night.
Pearce, 22, allegedly used a vehicle to repeatedly ram into a car driven by his ex-girlfriend and WNBA player Rickea Jackson in an alleged effort to stop her from reaching a police station during a domestic dispute on Feb. 7 in Doral, Florida. Police officers responded to Jackson’s call and Pearce fled in his vehicle before crashing it and fleeing on foot. Pearce was also accused of resisting arrest.