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The Atlanta Falcons went all in on fixing their pass rush in the 2025 NFL Draft, and for a few months, it paid off. First-round picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce combined for 16 sacks last season, but Walker just tore his ACL in camp and Pearce is facing a possible suspension from the NFL.
Pearce was arrested back in February and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, resisting an officer with violence, and misdemeanor stalking. NFL analysts have speculated Pearce could be suspended for the first eight games, but nothing is official yet.
Falcons president and CEO Greg Beadles provided an update on the second-year edge rusher at Wednesday's practice, saying the team expects a resolution from the league in the next few days.
"First of all, James has been doing really well, everything that we want him to do on and off of the field, so that's been great," Beadles told Falcons reporter Kelly Price. "And we do expect sometime in the next several days that we'll hear from the league just officially what the stance is going to be with him going forward."
Pearce led the team (and all rookies) with 10.5 sacks last season. Losing either player would be tough, but potentially losing both would be a devastating blow to Atlanta's defense. Last year, the team finished second in the NFL with 57 sacks, which was a new franchise record.
Walker is officially out for the season, and assuming Pearce gets suspended, the Falcons will need to find some additional pass-rush help. Joey Bosa, Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos are potential options.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons exec provides update on James Pearce Jr. situation
Continue reading...
Pearce was arrested back in February and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, resisting an officer with violence, and misdemeanor stalking. NFL analysts have speculated Pearce could be suspended for the first eight games, but nothing is official yet.
Falcons president and CEO Greg Beadles provided an update on the second-year edge rusher at Wednesday's practice, saying the team expects a resolution from the league in the next few days.
"First of all, James has been doing really well, everything that we want him to do on and off of the field, so that's been great," Beadles told Falcons reporter Kelly Price. "And we do expect sometime in the next several days that we'll hear from the league just officially what the stance is going to be with him going forward."
Pearce led the team (and all rookies) with 10.5 sacks last season. Losing either player would be tough, but potentially losing both would be a devastating blow to Atlanta's defense. Last year, the team finished second in the NFL with 57 sacks, which was a new franchise record.
Walker is officially out for the season, and assuming Pearce gets suspended, the Falcons will need to find some additional pass-rush help. Joey Bosa, Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos are potential options.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons exec provides update on James Pearce Jr. situation
Continue reading...
