What happened: Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. is active for Sunday's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Pearce had carried a questionable designation due to back tightness before being cleared during pregame warmups.

Why it matters: His presence bolsters Atlanta's defensive front in the cross-conference matchup. Pearce was expected to play Sunday after returning to the active roster following a league suspension. His clearance stabilizes the pass rush rotation against Cincinnati.

What to watch: Kickoff between the Bengals and Falcons is scheduled for Sun Nov 8, 9:30 AM ET. Atlanta will monitor Pearce's workload along the defensive line.