Jonathon Cooper Legal Case and Exempt-List Absence
Key Questions
What legal issue is Jonathon Cooper facing?
Cooper faces a felony charge with his arraignment set for August, stemming from incidents in late June.
How deep is the Broncos' pass rush group?
Nik Bonitto leads a strong unit, with depth from Elliss, Tillman, Robinson, and emerging candidate Que Robinson.
What could happen to Cooper if the legal situation escalates?
Cooper could be placed on the exempt list, which would affect the defensive rotation.
Who headlines the Broncos' OLB room in 2026?
Nik Bonitto is the standout, with the group viewed as one of the NFL's deeper pass-rush units.
How might Cooper's absence impact the defense?
His potential unavailability would thin the rotation and place more pressure on the depth players behind Bonitto.
Jonathon Cooper pleaded not guilty in his domestic-violence case, and a jury trial is set for Nov. 10. He remains on the commissioner's exempt list and cannot participate in football activities, leaving Denver without him for at least two games and potentially two to six; Jonah Elliss is the expected Week 1 replacement, with Que Robinson and Dondrea Tillman available for expanded work.