NFL hands down four suspensions before preseason action, with Falcons' James Pearce Jr. hit hardest
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- James Pearce Jr. received an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy following his Feb. 7 arrest, when he allegedly chased his then-girlfriend in an SUV and rammed her vehicle before fleeing police; he was initially charged with three felonies, though charges are set for dismissal if he completes a pre-trial intervention program.
- Atlanta's pass-rush depth takes a compounded hit because fellow second-year edge rusher Jalon Walker tore his ACL in training camp, leaving Cameron Thomas and Brandon Dorlus atop the Falcons' initial depth chart while Pearce — a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist with a Falcons rookie-record 10.5 sacks — serves his suspension.
- Phidarian Mathis (Bills) was suspended three games for a substance-abuse policy violation and sits second-string on Buffalo's defensive line behind Ed Oliver, Deone Walker, and T.J. Sanders.
- Nazeeh Johnson (Titans) drew a six-game ban for a PED policy violation; he tied for the team lead with five tackles in Tennessee's 19-13 preseason win over the 49ers and was listed as a third-string cornerback.
- Dorance Armstrong Jr. (Commanders) received a one-game suspension for a personal conduct policy violation tied to a Texas arrest on misdemeanor assault and resisting-arrest charges; he is still recovering from a torn ACL and listed behind Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson on Washington's depth chart.
- Josh Jacobs and Puka Nacua avoided suspensions Friday, but the NFL is still investigating — Jacobs over an open domestic-violence case and Nacua over a March civil lawsuit alleging gender violence, assault, and battery.
- All four suspensions begin Aug. 30, allowing the players to participate in preseason games and activities before sitting out regular-season games.
Why it matters: The NFL cleared its suspension slate before preseason play but left two high-profile cases — Josh Jacobs (domestic violence, case open) and Puka Nacua (gender violence civil lawsuit) — unresolved, signaling those investigations remain active. For Atlanta, losing Pearce for eight games alongside Jalon Walker's torn ACL leaves a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist's replacement-level depth to anchor the pass rush until his Nov. 2 reinstatement.
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