The Atlanta Falcons have been in the news a bit lately, as ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported that edge rusher James Pearce Jr. allegedly crashed his car into a vehicle occupied and driven by Los Angeles Sparks player Rickea Jackson, along with hitting an officer with said car in an attempt to evade arrest. The incident allegedly took place in Florida, and Pearce Jr. was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 7th, and is facing five felony charges. He’s since been released on bond.
Kevin Stefanski On Pearce Situation
According to NBC Sports, new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke on the Pearce incident before a recent press conference, stating, “On the James Pearce situation, there is really nothing to add.
“I’ll defer, our coaches will defer to the statement that was put out. So, respectfully, I understand there are questions, but there’s not much to add there.”
With this situation ongoing, there’s a possibility that Pearce Jr. may not be available for some time during the upcoming NFL season, or maybe not at all. That prompts the question: Who will replace Pearce Jr. if he’s unable to play?
Who Will Replace Pearce Jr. If Unable To Play at Any Point Next Season?
The Falcons’ front seven has plenty of talent beyond Pearce Jr. It includes David Onyemata, Ruke Orhorhoro, Kaden Elliss, Leonard Floyd, Jalon Walker, and others.
Onyemata had 62 total tackles and a sack in 2025. While Orhorhoro had 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks, Floyd accumulated 19 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Walker, a former first-round pick out of Georgia, had 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery this past season. Walker really showcased his impact on the defense, emerging as one of the better defensive players that’s early in their career.
One of Walker’s better games was against the New England Patriots in Week 9, where he had five tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. The duo of Pearce Jr. and Walker was one to note, as they were among the best edge-rushing tandems in the NFL. But with Pearce Jr. possibly being on the commissioner’s exempt list, other players will need to pick up the slack.
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But Walker, Orhorhoro, Ellis, Floyd, and others could fill the void of production on defense if need be. The Falcons do not have a first-round draft pick in 2026, as they traded with the Rams, and the result of that was Atlanta drafting Pearce Jr. in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. So for now, the Falcons will have to work with what they have on defense, unless they can find someone of Pearce Jr.’s talent or better in the second or later rounds.
