Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. returned to Atlanta for mandatory minicamp this week for the first time since his February arrest. Head coach Kevin Stefanski says the team has received no update on the NFL’s investigation and that Pearce understands what’
James Pearce Jr. is back in Atlanta, but the timing carries weight.
The Falcons edge rusher is participating in the team’s mandatory minicamp this week—the first time he has returned since his arrest for an incident in February involving his former girlfriend. Pearce was charged with three felonies: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. fleeing the police. and resisting an officer with violence.
In May, Pearce entered a 12-month pretrial intervention program that could result in all charges being dropped. Even with that program in place. discipline from the NFL remains possible. and Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledged Tuesday that Atlanta still doesn’t have clarity on where the league investigation stands. The team has received no update on the NFL’s investigation, Stefanski said.
“I’m not going to give the specifics about the conversations with any player,” Stefanski said, via Josh Kendall of TheAthletic.com. “I like to keep things private, but he understands what’s expected of him.”
Pearce’s participation comes with limits. He will have limited participation in practice this week after not participating in the voluntary offseason work.
Stefanski framed the immediate focus as the present moment with the team already in the building. “I really can’t speak to the past,” he said. “What’s in the future? I’m excited that everybody’s here, ready to learn.”
Pearce is not expected to speak to the media this week, a team representative told Kendall.
The minicamp return matters not just because Pearce is learning the next steps. but because his early NFL production is already on the record. Pearce, the 26th overall pick of last year’s draft, appeared in all 17 games as a rookie with three starts. He finished the season with 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits and five passes defensed.
James Pearce Jr. Kevin Stefanski Atlanta Falcons mandatory minicamp NFL investigation pretrial intervention aggravated battery with a deadly weapon aggravated battery fleeing police resisting an officer with violence 26th overall pick 10.5 sacks
So he’s back but they “can’t give specifics” like that’s not the whole point. Sounds like the league already knows everything.
12-month pretrial thing?? so basically he gets a slap on the wrist and then everyone acts normal. Falcons really about to just move on like nothing happened smh.
Wait reply to you but anyway… if he’s in a program maybe that means NFL won’t do anything? Like once charges can get dropped, doesn’t that automatically clear it? Seems like Stefanski is saying “expectations” but not saying what the expectations are.
Mandatory minicamp is so weird to me. If he’s limited participation already, why is he even there this week? Also February arrest, May program, and now no update… feels like they’re waiting until after training camp to decide.