Jonathon Cooper placed on NFL commissioner exempt list
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- Jonathon Cooper was placed on the NFL's commissioner exempt list Sunday, meaning the Broncos outside linebacker cannot practice or play while potential violations of the league's personal conduct policy are reviewed.
- Cooper is scheduled for arraignment Monday at 1:30 p.m. MT in Douglas County (Colo.) court, facing a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation and three misdemeanors including violating a protection order.
- Cooper was arrested twice in a seven-day span in June on domestic violence charges; the affidavit from his first June 4 arrest included a nurse's medical exam report stating his girlfriend's choking injury posed a 'substantial risk of death' or traumatic brain injury.
- Cooper played eight snaps in Friday's 34-6 preseason victory over the Minnesota Vikings despite the pending charges, with coach Sean Payton saying he wanted to evaluate the depth behind him.
- Cooper will be paid while on the exempt list, can work out at Denver's facility, and attend meetings, but cannot participate in on-field activities — and the timing means he doesn't count against the Broncos' 53-man roster ahead of Sunday's cut deadline.
- Sean Payton said the Broncos set guidelines for Cooper following his arrest that included therapy, and the team allowed him to participate throughout training camp and the preseason 'staying the course with the league protocol.'
- Cooper, a seventh-round pick in 2021, has 31.5 sacks in 81 career games with Denver including eight sacks last season and has started every game for the past three seasons.
Why it matters: The exempt list removes Denver's starting outside linebacker — eight sacks last season and an every-game starter the past three years — from the active roster for an indefinite stretch while felony charges proceed. The timing benefits the Broncos' roster math: Cooper doesn't count against the 53-man limit ahead of Sunday's cut deadline, but the team could face a prolonged absence of a key pass rusher if the league suspends him.
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