The NFL placed Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper on the commissioner's exempt list, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The 28-year-old pass-rusher was arrested twice in a seven-day span over the summer on domestic violence charges. He's facing five charges, including second-degree felony assault. Cooper will be paid while on the list but can't practice or play in games. He'll be allowed to attend team meetings, participate in conditioning and weight-lifting workouts, and receive treatment in the team facility, per 9 News' Mike Klis.
Cooper was initially arrested June 4 and charged with three misdemeanors following a confrontation with his then-girlfriend. He was arrested again June 11 after violating a protection order by showing up at his former girlfriend's residence.
The felony charge stems from Cooper's first arrest, as the results of a nurse's forensic examination of his girlfriend concluded that she sustained "serious bodily injury" consistent with "strangulation with hypoxia," according to The Athletic's Nick Kosmider and Jonathan Jones.
Cooper is scheduled to make a court appearance in Colorado's Douglas County on Monday for an arraignment, according to ESPN's Jeff Legwold. He was excused from the Broncos' mandatory minicamp in June before reporting to training camp in July.
Denver is likely play its season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs without Cooper. Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, and Que Robinson will see more snaps alongside starter Nik Bonitto while Cooper is on leave.
Cooper, a seventh-round selection by the Broncos in the 2021 draft, finished second on the team in sacks (eight) last season. He posted a career-high 10.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2024.
