Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper is heading back to court on Monday, with a newly scheduled motions hearing now on the calendar in Douglas County Court.
The hearing is set for 3 p.m., according to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post. Cooper is facing a felony assault charge, along with several lesser charges tied to altercations with a former girlfriend that led to a pair of arrests in June.
Cooper pleaded not guilty to all charges in August and is currently scheduled to go to trial in the middle of November. Until that case is resolved, he remains on the commissioner’s exempt list, which keeps him from practicing or playing, though he is still being paid.
The NFL is also continuing its investigation into possible violations of the league’s Personal Conduct Policy. Cooper is allowed around the Broncos’ facility and can work out and attend meetings, but he cannot take part on the field.
A suspension remains possible as well. Cooper has already missed four games, and Denver plays two more this week, Sunday and Thursday. Gabriel noted that any suspension would treat the games Cooper has already missed on the exempt list as “time served,” though he would have to repay the game checks he’s collected, since NFL suspensions are without pay.
Gabriel also raised the possibility that Monday’s motions hearing could be connected to a possible resolution in the case, which is a common step in criminal proceedings. That hearing was not on the calendar when Cooper’s case was laid out in August.
For the Broncos, the absence has been felt. Training camp chatter centered on linebackers Jonah Elliss and Que Robinson as players who might help replace at least some of Cooper’s production, but that has not materialized so far.
Denver hasn’t made Cooper a major public topic, with the team dealing with more immediate issues. The Broncos are 2-2, trying to get their offense moving, and also working through injuries to both starting cornerbacks ahead of Sunday’s road game against the Los Angeles Chargers, who are 0-4.
In Other News...
Brandon Jones Is Suddenly Central To A Broncos Test Fans Feel
Brandon Jones has quickly gone from a presence in the Broncos secondary to one of its most important stabilizers. The safety has returned after missing time with a torn pectoral muscle, and he has settled back in beside Talanoa Hufanga with the kind of physical, reliable tackling that has made him stand out. Jones leads Denvers defensive backs in solo tackles, a reminder of how much the Broncos have leaned on him in the middle of the field.
The workload figures to get heavier against the Chargers, where Denver will be without Pat Surtain and Riley Moss. With both cornerbacks ruled out, Jones and Hufanga are suddenly facing a far larger share of the responsibility behind the front seven, and the Broncos ability to hold up in coverage may hinge on how much of that burden those two can absorb. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos' Tight End Problem Could Spark A Bold Sean Payton Move
The Broncos have spent plenty of time looking for a real answer at tight end, and that lingering need makes the position one of the more interesting spots to watch as Sean Payton keeps building out the roster. One name that naturally fits the conversation is Detroits Sam LaPorta, whose value around the league remains obvious even as the Lions work through contract talks with him. For Denver, the appeal is easy to understand: a young, proven tight end could change the shape of an offense that has not had enough production from that spot.
A move like that would not come cheap, which is part of what makes the idea feel more like a long-view possibility than an immediate one. If Detroit were to stumble before the 2026 trade deadline, the Broncos could at least have a reason to check the market and see whether LaPorta becomes available. Until then, it is the sort of premium-position speculation that hangs over a team still searching for a lasting solution in the middle of its passing game. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Face One Clear Issue In Getting More Out Of Bo Nix
Denvers offense has spent the first four weeks of the 2026 season searching for a rhythm, and the running game has been the clearest place where the Broncos have fallen short. Bo Nix has tended to look better when the ground attack is doing its part, but the support system around him has been too inconsistent for the offense to settle in. The Broncos have been building toward a friendlier stretch of opponents, which at least gives the staff a chance to see whether a more balanced approach can finally take hold.
What makes the next few weeks interesting is the possibility that the backfield gets a needed jolt when Jonah Coleman returns to the lineup. The rookies presence could give Denver another way to take pressure off Nix and make the passing game easier to function, especially if the rushing attack can finally offer some real stability. For a team that has been stuck waiting for its offense to catch up with its defense, that remains the clearest issue to watch. [Read more 🡒]