James Pearce Missing Falcons Workouts as Felony Charges Mount
Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Wednesday that edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is nowhere to be found as the team kicks off its voluntary offseason workout program. The reason? The 22-year-old is facing some serious legal trouble back in Florida, and it's keeping him away from the facility.
The Criminal Case
Pearce is dealing with four criminal charges, including three felonies, all stemming from an incident in February. According to the charges, he allegedly crashed his vehicle into a car driven by WNBA player Rickea Jackson, who was his ex-girlfriend. That's not the kind of offseason headline any team wants, and the Falcons are clearly in a holding pattern until things play out in court.
🎲 Want to Make Tonight's Game More Interesting?
Kalshi lets you trade on real sports outcomes — not just spreads. It's the only federally regulated prediction market in the US, and it's available right here in Washington state.
New users get a FREE $10 just for signing up — no deposit required to claim it.
👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThe legal process is moving forward. Pearce has a trial hearing scheduled for May 4 in Miami-Dade County. Beyond that, a dating violence hearing related to Jackson's protective order against him is set for May 6. So we're looking at weeks of legal proceedings ahead.
The Falcons Are Staying Silent (For Now)
The organization hasn't gone into detail about the situation beyond acknowledging they're monitoring it closely. Stefanski's comment that Pearce isn't present at workouts is basically the most concrete statement we've gotten from Atlanta on this matter. They're letting the legal system do its thing and keeping their cards close to their chest for the moment.
With May hearings on the horizon, the Falcons won't have answers anytime soon about what happens next with their edge rusher. For now, they're moving forward with their offseason work without him.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about Falcons' Pearce.
View X conversation →This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.