FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta got its second-year pass rusher back Monday when the league lifted the eight-game ban it had given James Pearce Jr. before the season under its personal conduct policy.
Pearce returns to the 53-man roster and can suit up when Atlanta meets Cincinnati in Madrid this Sunday. Coach Kevin Stefanski had said the plan is for Pearce to play in Week 9, but he said Monday it is too soon to say how many snaps he will get.
To open roster spots, Atlanta cut Jared Ivey and Drake Jackson, both defenders. Ivey, claimed off waivers after the August cutdown, had one sack and eight combined tackles in seven games. Jackson, a former second-round pick of the 49ers, moved up from the practice squad on Oct. 24.
Pearce had a strong rookie year and placed third in the voting for the top defensive rookie. Atlanta has also been without fellow edge rusher Jalon Walker, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, yet the Falcons still rank seventh in the league in pressure rate while blitzing on about 24 percent of snaps.
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