The National Football League has suspended four players. They are Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr., Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong, and Tennessee Titans defensive back Nazeeh Johnson.
Pearce Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina was suspended eight games on Friday for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy according to the Associated Press. He was allegedly arrested for a domestic violence dispute in February involving his ex-girlfriend Rickea Jackson, a Chicago Sky forward, from an incident in Doral, Florida.
Initially the Falcons’s first round pick (26th overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft, Pearce Jr. played 17 games with the Falcons in 2025. He had 26 combined tackles (17 solo tackles and nine assisted tackles), 10 tackles for a loss, 16 quarterback hits, 10.5 sacks, five pass deflections. one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for 27 yards.
Mathis violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy according to Connor Byrne of profootballrumors.com and was suspended three games. He was allegedly involved in an alcohol related incident while with the New York Jets in 2025. As a result, Mathis has been suspended three games. In 2025 with the Bills, he had 13 combined tackles (four solo tackles and nine assisted tackles).
Armstrong was suspended one game for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy according to John Keim of TSN. He was allegedly arrested on May 10, 2025 from an incident in Frisco, Texas where he caused a bodily injury and resisted arrest/search of transport. With the Commanders last season, Armstrong had 24 combined tackles (16 solo tackles and eight assisted tackles), seven tackles for a loss, seven quarterback hits, and 5.5 sacks.
Johnson was suspended six games for taking a banned substance that was in his fertility medication according to Ben Collins of BBC. He is with the Titans after spending three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and winning a Super Bowl in 2023. This past season with the Chiefs, Johnson had two tackles (one solo tackle and one assisted tackle).
