The NFL just handed down some major suspension news regarding Atlanta Falcons pass rusher James Pearce Jr., and it has some Chicago Bears implications.
First, the news from NFL insider Ian Rapoport on Pearce’s eight-game suspension:
Pearce is eligible to participate in all preseason activities, including games. The suspension will begin on August 30 and he will be eligible for reinstatement on Monday, November 2. t.co/WMtu8YX6k3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 14, 2026As RapSheet notes above, James Pearce Jr. is eligible to participate in all sorts of football activities before the regular season kicks off in September. He can be active for practice, play in exhibition games, and participate in all of the preseason activities. But that all ends when the suspension begins on Aug. 30.
James Pearce Jr. Set to Miss Bears-Falcons Game in Week 6
Knowing that the Atlanta Falcons are on the Bears’ schedule, the first thing I did after hearing about the Pearce suspension news was consult the team’s schedule. And that ultimately led to this post, because I find it incredibly newsworthy that James Pearce Jr. will miss the Week 6 tilt between the Bears and Falcons.
CHICAGO BEARS 2026 SCHEDULE — DATES, TIMES, AND OPPONENTS
Pearce played in all 17 games as a rookie in 2025. He collected 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles-for-loss, and 16 quarterback hits in those games. The University of Tennessee product finished third in the AP’s Defensive Rookie of the Year vote. In short, this is a huge loss for the Falcons.
Dec 11, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes the ball against Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesEven though Pearce’s talent and upside are alluring, the Falcons have been preparing for the season as if they knew this was coming.
From Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who points out that the talented pass rusher was listed as a third-stringer on the team’s depth chart:
The placement surely isn’t a reflection of merit. As a rookie in 2025, Pearce had 10.5 sacks and finished third in the voting for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Pearce had been charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, for allegedly ramming his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle with his car. He also faced felony charges of fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence, and a misdemeanor count of stalking.
Florio also notes that the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy’s baseline for suspensions for domestic violence incidents is six games. Even if the league trims the suspension, a six-game absence would still keep Pearce off the field for the Bears-Falcons matchup. In any case, we’ll continue to monitor this story to see if anything changes.
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