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By Daniel Arwas
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The Atlanta Falcons already had disaster strike when edge rusher Jalon Walker, whom the team selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, suffered an ACL tear on Aug. 4, rendering him out for the entirety of the 2026 season.
Per a report from Josh Kendall on Monday, Falcons fans should be concerned that fellow second year pass rusher James Pearce Jr., who recorded 10.5 sacks as a rookie after being selected with the 26th overall pick back in April 2025, will face a large suspension after his domestic violence incident earlier this offseason.
Adam Schefter of ESPN put what is all but a sealing dot on that matter, suggesting that it is no longer a matter of "if" but "how long" the suspension will be, emphasizing that Pearce will be suspended by the NFL ahead of the season opener at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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"James Pearce had a disturbing domestic situation during the offseason in which he is going to be suspended, he is going to be suspended. The question is how long. Is it six games, is it longer: eight games, ten games, what is going to be – a season?Don't know how that is going to come down, but James Pearce I believe is going to be suspended here." Schefter said on "The Adam Schefter Podcast" on Aug. 11.
Pearce is currently facing three felony counts after being charged with aggravated battery and aggravated stalking against WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Although all three counts may be dismissed on the condition that Pearce completes a pretrial intervention program.
Nevertheless, the NFL are unlikely to look upon the situation nearly as favorably, and with the incident seeming fairly severe by all accounts, Commissioner Roger Goodell will no doubt want to make a point and send a message on this matter.
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If and when Pearce is ultimately suspended, the Falcons' once emerging young pass rush could be in disarray for the first half of the season, with 2024 third round pick Bralen Trice, ex-Cardinals' third round pick Cameron Thomas and former Giants and Eagles edge rusher Azeez Ojulari being the next men up.
The trio combined for 2.5 sacks last season, all of which were made by Thomas. Indeed, two years into the league and Trice has yet to play a single regular season game for the Falcons.
Suffice to say, the pass rush may be in real trouble come the start of the season; a big let down for what many thought could be a breakout season on defense for Atlanta under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
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