James Pearce: Everything you need to know

Pearce was arrested in Florida on Saturday on domestic violence charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated stalking, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. Pearce just completed his rookie season with the Falcons. He could face discipline by the NFL, though the league will likely wait to make any such determination until more information emerges and the legal process plays out. In an initial team statement, the Falcons stated, "We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time," per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Pearce tallied 26 total tackles (17 solo), including 10.5 sacks, five passes defensed and one forced fumble over 17 regular-season games in 2025. Pearce, a 2025 first-round pick from Tennessee, was one of the NFL's premier pass rushers during his rookie campaign, leading all rookies with 10.5 sacks and tying for the 12th-most league-wide. The 22-year-old made a significant impact on Atlanta's defense, helping the Falcons finish with the second-most sacks in the NFL (57.0) after ranking 24th in the same category last season. Pearce is expected to line up opposite fellow 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker in 2026, forming one of league's most promising pass-rush duos.

Pearce (neck) was a full participant in Saturday's practice and does not carry an injury designation for Monday's game against the Rams. Pearce began Week 17 as a limited participant at practice before upgrading to full reps Saturday. The rookie first-round pick's availability versus Los Angeles on Monday will provide the Falcons' pass rush with a much-needed boost, as across 15 regular-season appearances thus far, Pearce has racked up 22 tackles (14 solo), including a team-high 8.5 sacks. He's also logged five pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.