FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr., the team’s sacks leader as a rookie in 2025, was back at the practice facility Tuesday for the start of the team’s mandatory minicamp after his tumultuous offseason.
Pearce’s future with the franchise seemed uncertain when he faced three felony charges stemming from what police called a domestic dispute on Feb. 7 near Miami with his ex-girlfriend Rickea Jackson, a WNBA player and a fellow former University of Tennessee athlete.
On April 23, one of Pearce’s attorneys, Jacob Nunez, said the NFL player agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program that would allow him to resolve the felony charges. Nunez said if Pearce completes a six-month diversion program without violation, the state of Florida will dismiss all charges.
Pearce was not with the Falcons for the start of the team’s voluntary offseason program in April.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Ian Cunningham, each in his first year with the Falcons, had declined comment on Pearce’s status until Tuesday.