Atlanta Falcons pass rusher James Pearce Jr. won’t participate in team drills despite rejoining the team for this week’s minicamp.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski shared the news Tuesday, confirming earlier reports that Pearce was back with the team for the camp that runs through Thursday.
Pearce, 22, was not with the team for voluntary workouts in the spring following felony charges stemming from a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson on Feb. 7.
Stefanski said that Pearce, a first-round pick in 2025 who led the Falcons in sacks (10.5) and quarterback hits (16) as a rookie, will still benefit from being with the team even as they are waiting to find out what punishment, if any, he could receive from the NFL.
ESPN obtained a statement from NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy on Monday which said Pearce’s situation is still being reviewed under the league’s personal conduct policy.
“I think throughout every situation you take in all the information available to you,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, this being our mandatory portion of our program, he will do work in the weight room. He’ll do individual (drills) out there. He’s not going to do team settings, team period type stuff yet. I just feel like with him not being here for the offseason program to date, I don’t think it’s fair to put him in those types of drills. But he’ll be out there.”
Pearce avoided trial in Florida on three felony charges by entering into a one-year diversion program. Satisfactory completion under a judge’s supervision would allow him to petition to have the charges dropped.
