The Broncos’ outside linebacker group took a hit on Sunday when Jonathon Cooper was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, a move that signals NFL discipline is moving closer after his offseason legal troubles.
Cooper, who is facing a felony assault charge and other charges, is now barred from practicing or playing while on the list, though he will continue to be paid. The league’s action comes after what had already been a difficult offseason for the Broncos defender involving a former partner.
The timing matters for Denver because Cooper has been one of the steadiest players on the roster. Entering his age-28 season, he has not missed a start over the past three years and has piled up 27 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, and 49 quarterback hits in that span.
Now the Broncos are looking at the real possibility that he misses regular-season games for the first time since 2022, his second season in the league. With Cooper sidelined, Denver will likely lean on third-year EDGE Jonah Elliss and second-year EDGE Que Robinson to help absorb the workload.
That said, the Broncos are not exactly short on pass-rush talent. Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen remain in the mix, giving Denver a strong core even with Cooper unavailable.
There’s no official suspension yet, but this is the clearest sign so far that one is coming. Atlanta Falcons EDGE James Pearce Jr. was handed an eight-game suspension for a domestic dispute with his former partner, and that number naturally invites speculation here. Still, the situation around Cooper is different enough that guessing the length doesn’t really help anyone.
What is clear is that Cooper’s offseason actions have put him in a tough spot, and the Broncos now have to move forward without one of their most reliable edge defenders.
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