Broncos Linebacker Removed From Exempt List, Eligible to Play

The Denver Broncos defense put on a pass rushing clinic against the Seattle Seahawks in their 17-14 win in overtime on Thursday night, but they’ll get yet another weapon back in their next game against the Arizona Cardinals as linebacker Jonathon Cooper was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list and is now eligible to play, according to a report from Nick Kosmider of The Athletic and other outlets. 

Cooper has been on the exempt list since Aug. 30, which has left him ineligible to play or practice with the team during the first six weeks of the season. His presence on the list is due to a pair of June arrests stemming from a pair of domestic incidents with his then-girlfriend. 

The linebacker  is facing multiple charges, including a second-degree felony assault charge, and he had a court hearing in Douglas County this week that resulted in the scheduling of his trial from November to March.  

Cooper remains the subject of a league investigation under the Personal Conduct Policy related to the arrests, according to a league spokeman in a statement that was issued when the move was announced. The league review is “ongoing,” per the statement, and it will not affected by this change to Cooper’s roster status.

The linebacker thanked ownership, his teammates, coaches and the rest of the organization for their support in a statement on his Instagram account, and he also thanked the commissioner and the league for the opportunity to return. 

Cooper has been present in the team facility and attending meetings, per Kosmider, even though he’s not allowed to practice with the time. Part of the purpose of the court hearing was to give him permission to fly to Arizona with the team and to the rest of the Broncos’ away games, which was apparently a precursor to this announcement. 

He’s still being paid while on the list, and Cooper could still be subject to league discipline next March and beyond as his trial plays out.

The Broncos will get a one-week roster exemption for Cooper, who can now return to practice, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN. He could then be added to the 53-man roster at any point over the next week and play on Oct. 25 against the Cardinals.

Denver struggled initially to adjust to his absence, but the defense put on a formidable performance agains the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, as they sacked quarterback Sam Darnold five times and registered 17 quarterback hits.