Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images James Pearce Jr. was at the Falcons’ facility on Monday to undergo a physical before the start of Atlanta’s mandatory minicamp this week.
The 22-year-old pass rusher was not with the team for voluntary workouts in the spring due to off-field issues.
The Falcons are holding their minicamp Tuesday-Thursday this week, the final formal team gathering before the first training camp under head coach Kevin Stefanski opens next month.
Pearce Jr. entered a pretrial intervention program following felony charges stemming from a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Before the trial began on three felony charges against Pearce for the Feb. 7 incident in Miami, he agreed to terms of a diversion program in May.
The court-ordered program spans one year and satisfactory completion under a judge’s supervision would allow Pearce Jr. to petition to be cleared of all charges.
Pearce Jr. led the Falcons with 10.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. Atlanta traded up in the 2025 first round, parting with a first-rounder in 2026, to select Pearce 26th overall.
–Field Level Media
