Stefanski still uncertain how much Pearce will get to play in Madrid after return from suspension

MADRID (AP) — Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski wants to see edge rusher how James Pearce Jr. responds in practice before determining the number of snaps he will have this weekend in Madrid after returning from an eight-game suspension.

Pearce was suspended at the start of the season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after being arrested in February following a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson.

He participated in Wednesday's walkthrough after the team arrived in Madrid for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“We’ll have a full-speed practice Thursday or Friday of this week and see where James is,” Stefanski said. “He’s been with us for a month, not practicing, but he’s been in the weight room training. So we have a pretty good sense of what his shape is, if you will, his football shape that is. So we’ll have the plan going in this ballgame, but I don’t have an exact number of snaps just yet.”

The second-year defensive end was reinstated on Monday, a day after the team's 16-0 loss in heavy rain at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Safety Xavier Watts said the squad was excited to have Pearce back.

“We know the type of player he is,” Watts said. “You know, last year he had a great year, and just excited for him to get back out there and, you know, kind of get his season rolling. You know he’ll have fresh legs, so hopefully he’s out there, you know, getting the edge, getting the sacks the way he does, so I think it’ll help the team for sure.”

The Falcons' defense will face a Bengals team that has won three straight games with an offense that has been red-hot, with quarterback Joe Burrow throwing five touchdown passes and running for a score in overtime in a 43-36 win over the Tennessee Titans at home last week.

The Falcons couldn’t stop Tampa Bay’s run game on Sunday as the Buccaneers became the first team to have zero completions in a game since Buffalo on Sept. 29, 1974.

Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo and running back Brian Robinson were listed as limited participants Wednesday, while defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. returned to full participation.

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Atlanta Falcons linebacker Yasir Abdullah (22) and defensive end Drake Jackson (91) warm-up for NFL football practice in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski leads an NFL football practice in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Atlanta Falcons players warm-up during NFL football practice in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 120-105 victory over the Washington Wizards and former Hawks star guard Trae Young on Wednesday night.

Alexander-Walker hit six 3-pointers after sinking a career-high-tying nine in a 104-102 win at Indiana on Monday.

Onyeka Okongwu added 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Hawks in their first time playing against Young, who finished with 18 points, since trading the four-time All-Star to the Wizards in January.

CJ McCollum and Aaron Wiggins scored 15 points each to help Atlanta make up for All-Star forward Jalen Johnson missing his second straight game with a sprained left ankle.

Anthony Davis had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Washington.

Kyshawn George added 25 points for the Wizards, who trailed throughout the final three quarters.

Atlanta built its game-high lead of 16 in the second with a 13-0 run.

Asa Newell hit a tip-in at the first-quarter buzzer, and Zuby Ejiofor hit two transition baskets, prompting a quick timeout from Wizards coach Brian Keefe. But the surge continued, with Kingston Flemings hitting a runner and Wiggins sinking a 3-pointer before Dyson Daniels' driving layup made it 48-32 with 9:06 left in the half.

Washington closed within seven by halftime and cut it to four twice in the third, the latter time on Young's step-back 3 to make it 83-79.

But Corey Kispert — a player Atlanta received when dealing Young — converted a four-point play on the following possession, and the game never got closer than six afterward.

The Hawks and Wizards close their home-and-home set in Friday's NBA Cup tilt in Atlanta.

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Atlanta Hawks guard Aaron Wiggins (2) shoots a three point basket as Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis (23) shoots the ball over Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) handles the ball as Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa (4) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Wizards guard Trae Young passes the ball as Atlanta Hawks guard Luguentz Dort defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)