A flurry of suspensions was announced by the NFL Friday, with James Pearce’s eight-game ban the most harsh.

The Atlanta Falcons edge rusher has been embroiled in a domestic dispute and was arrested in February.

Pearce was charged with three felonies for his alleged involvement in a dispute with his girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson. 

Court documents revealed Pearce was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person.

Pearce, a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year after a successful 2025 season with the Falcons, was arrested near Miami last month after allegedly fleeing officers and crashing his car after what police called a domestic violence incident with Jackson, a 2024 All-Rookie team honoree with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Pearce is alleged to have crashed his car into another vehicle being driven by Jackson and struck a police officer while he tried to flee law enforcement, ESPN reported, citing a criminal complaint from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office.

NFL RECEIVER SPLITS WITH FIANCÉE, FORMER MISS PERU, AFTER SENDING WEDDING INVITES: REPORT

Jackson told police she noticed Pearce was following her in a white luxury vehicle, and when she stopped at a red light, the Falcons rookie tried to open her car doors.

Jackson said she started to drive toward the Doral Police Department while Pearce was allegedly following her. Then, as she got closer to the police station, she alleged Pearce cut her off and collided with her head on.

An officer reportedly pulled a gun on Pearce once Doral authorities responded to the incident in an attempt to force him to get on the ground. However, he allegedly got back into his car and drove away.

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Three other players were suspended by the NFL on Friday: Tennessee Titans defensive back Nazeeh Johnson, Washington Commanders edge rusher Dorance Armstrong and Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis.

Johnson will be out for six games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Armstrong will miss a game for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and Mathis’ violation of the league’s substance abuse policy is costing him three games.

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Rams shocked fans — and much of the NFL — when they selected quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick in the NFL draft.

Simpson started only 15 games at Alabama before the Rams ostensibly made him the eventual heir apparent to Matthew Stafford.

Now, after offseason workouts, two weeks of training camp and a few preseason practices, Simpson will get his first NFL game opportunity when the Rams open the preseason against Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m. PDT (CBS).

Fourth-year pro Stetson Bennett will start, but Simpson will play in the game.

“I’m really ready to show who I am,” Simpson said this week.

Simpson, 23, acknowledges the pressure that comes with his draft position, especially for a team that is favored to win Super Bowl LXI. But he does not feel it.

Not outwardly, anyway.

“I try to be as present as I can, and make sure every day I understand how much of a blessing it is knowing that I am the No. 13 pick and everything that comes with it,” Simpson said during training camp. “But also understanding that being here every day, and making the most out of every opportunity that I get, is everything I can ask for.”

Simpson started slow in the first few training camp workouts, but he appeared to break through when he stepped up in the pocket and completed a pass across the middle of the field. Simpson said he had begun to “put the puzzle pieces together,” marrying concepts with lessons learned watching Stafford and Bennett.

Star receiver Puka Nacua noticed.

“His arm and the confidence that he’s throwing the ball with has definitely grown a ton,” since offseason workouts, Nacua said before the Rams broke camp. “I think he’s feeling more comfortable in the pocket, understanding and seeing more guys run routes.”

Said offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase: “You’ve certainly seen him go and make some throws and go and compete in a really cool way.”

During this week’s joint workout with the Dallas Cowboys, Simpson played a few series, and completed a touchdown pass during a red-zone period.

But there is no tackling during practices. So Saturday will be Simpson’s first time experiencing NFL contact.

“It’s going to be a whole different lifestyle,” he quipped.

Coach Sean McVay does not play starters or other projected significant contributors during the preseason. In addition to Nacua and Davante Adams being held out, receivers Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield also will not play, McVay said.

Simpson’s fellow rookies — tight end Max Klare, offensive lineman Keagan Trost, receiver CJ Daniels and defensive lineman Tim Keenan — will play.

Scheelhaase will call plays.

This will be Bennett’s seventh — and most important — preseason start.

Jimmy Garoppolo is no longer on the roster and Stafford was on a limited schedule during training camp, so Bennett worked with the first-team offense for the first time in his career. The former Georgia star, who led the Bulldogs to two national titles, played with confidence and made plays in his bid to show McVay and teammates that he can step in if Stafford is sidelined during the season.

McVay is looking to see how Bennett and Simpson manage the offense before and after the snap. He anticipates that both will use their mobility to make plays if the pocket collapses.

“Seeing some of that stuff come to life will be important,” McVay said. “But I think it’s got to occur naturally.”

Stafford, Bennett and quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone are among those who have eased Simpson’s transition to the NFL. As Simpson prepared for Saturday’s game, Stafford offered counsel.

“The best advice he gave me was, ‘Just go let it rip. It’s nothing that you haven’t done before,’” Simpson said.

But this will be the first time Simpson will do it as a pro.

Simpson anticipates that it will be “surreal” to put on his game jersey and fulfill a dream of playing in the NFL.

“There are going to be things that I mess up on,” he said. “I’m going to learn from them and move on, and next week be able to learn from it and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Terrion Arnold, the former Detroit Lions first-round pick, is no longer a free agent.

Arnold and the Seattle Seahawks have reached a deal to bring him into the fold with the reigning Super Bowl champions, according to multiple reports.

The Lions, who selected Arnold with their first-round pick in 2024, released him in June after he was arrested in Tampa, Florida, on felony charges connected to a robbery and kidnapping from February.

The Seahawks were among the teams that Arnold visited earlier this week as he looked for his next chapter in the league. He also visited with the Houston Texans, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.

But the Seahawks, who already tout a superb defense on paper, are who Arnold wants to play with next. In fact, during HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” GM John Schneider was even seen discussing the potential of signing Arnold to the roster.

Head coach Mike Macdonald also noted the “great tryout” Arnold had while in Seattle.

LIONS RELEASE TERRION ARNOLD AFTER BOND SET AT $1 MILLION IN ARMED ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING CASE

“It’s a situation where there’s other things that are surrounding it,” Macdonald told reporters this week. “We’re aware of that. But we’re working through the situation right now. But it was a great visit. I really enjoyed meeting him, and I think he enjoyed being here, so we’ll see where it goes.”

Arnold is facing eight felony charges from allegations he orchestrated the abduction and beating of three men in February.

Prosecutors said in June that Arnold arranged for the men to be pistol-whipped after he suspected them of stealing $100,000 in cash and luxury goods from him. He was described as the “primary conspirator” of the incident, and Hillsborough County Judge Christopher Sabella set his bail at $1 million.

However, Arnold’s attorney, R. Timothy Jansen, said in Hillsborough County Court this summer his client will be “absolutely denying these allegations.” His agency, EAG Sports Management, added there is “no credible evidence” against him in this case.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell also noted in March that the team did not believe Arnold was involved in this case based on the information they had at the time.

Teams that were looking into adding Arnold to their roster needed to do their due diligence on the matter. No trial date has been set in his case.

The charges against him carry a sentence of up to life in prison. And the NFL must decide whether Arnold should be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list.

If a team is willing to sign him now, it must mean he should be free to play, at least at some point, this season.

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Arnold was expected to be a starting corner for the Lions this season, making his release a big one for the depth chart. He recorded his first career interception last season in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, though he was only able to play eight games because of a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery.

Arnold played 16 games during his rookie season in 2024, tallying 10 passes defended and 60 combined tackles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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