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NFL notebook
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. will be suspended for the first eight games of the 2026 season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, the league announced Friday.
Pearce was arrested in February following a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend and WNBA player, Rickea Jackson. The incident took place in Doral, Florida.
Pearce’s charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police and resisting arrest, and misdemeanor stalking could be dropped if he cooperates in a pretrial intervention program requiring random drug tests, distance from Jackson and staying out of legal trouble for one year.
Pearce will be available to participate in preseason games and all team activities until the suspension takes effect on Sunday, Aug. 30.
The second-year defensive end can be reinstated on Monday, Nov. 2, following Atlanta’s Week 8 road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Atlanta traded back to the No. 26 pick in the first round of the 2025 draft to select Pearce. out of Tennessee. He finished with 10.5 sacks his rookie year.
Explanation time
RENTON, Wash. — After answering six minutes worth of questions about the Seattle Seahawks and cornerback Terrion Arnold working on a contract, coach Mike Macdonald was asked about the team’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys for Saturday.
Macdonald, though, made it clear he was not ducking inquiries about Arnold, who is facing eight felony charges stemming from allegations he orchestrated the abduction and beating of three men in February.
“We also understand that it’s a serious situation with a legal matter,” Macdonald said. “There’s a process behind it, so we respect that. And, that’s how we’ll operate, too, is just letting that process play out. And, let the league decide if and when his return to play is. And we’ll just kind of understand that that’s at play.”
The 23-year-old became a free agent in June, when the Detroit Lions released him a few days after the kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy charges were levied.
Strong debut
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Jets rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik started in his NFL debut in place of Geno Smith and led scoring drives on each of his two series in the preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Smith was expected to start, but sat out because of a sore foot.
Klubnik is competing with Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook for a backup role behind Smith, with a chance to win the No. 2 job. The Jets lost, 24-16.