Atlanta Falcons rookie sparks brawls as practice intensity boils over

The Atlanta Falcons' training camp got physical fast, and first-round pick James Pearce Jr. was right in the middle of it.

James Pearce Jr. wastes no time stirring the pot in Falcons camp

On Sunday in Flowery Branch, Georgia, the rookie edge rusher found himself in not one but two separate fights during practice. His first clash came with center Ryan Neuzil, and things didn’t cool off.

Later, Pearce squared up again, this time with veteran lineman Kaleb McGary. Both dustups brought teammates charging in from each side, escalating the heat in what was already an aggressive session.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich didn’t hold back after practice. He’s aiming to build a tougher, nastier defense, but even he admitted things crossed the line.

“We’re trying to develop a culture, a style of play,” Ulbrich said. “Part of that is violence and urgency. Today it went a little too far. You’ve got to thrive in those moments, not retaliate.”

Pearce, taken 26th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, clearly isn’t shying away from contact in his first training camp. His energy, while raw, is exactly the kind of presence the Falcons lacked during a 2024 season where their defense ranked 23rd in both points and yards allowed.

The skirmishes stayed mostly between the offensive and defensive lines. Wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud joked about it afterward.

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“As long as the DBs don’t jump in, we’re good,” he said. “Let the big boys handle it.”

Ulbrich isn’t trying to turn his defense into a circus, but he’s also not backing off the plan to instill an edge. He wants physicality without penalties. Intensity without retaliation. Controlled violence with discipline.

Pearce may have taken it a step too far on Sunday. But the Falcons might finally have a defender who brings the kind of nastiness they’ve been missing.

Atlanta starts training camp games on August 8 against the Detroit Lions. Their week 1 opponent is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Atlanta on September 7.

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