Broncos OLB Jonathon Cooper placed on exempt list

The NFL placed Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper on the commissioner’s exempt list amid multiple domestic-violence-related charges stemming from two summer incidents, including a second-degree assault by strangulation. Cooper will be on paid leave and cannot practice or play while the case unfolds, though he may still be around the team for conditioning and treatment. He faces five charges overall, with an arraignment scheduled and not-guilty pleas anticipated in some reports. The exemption means he does not count toward the Broncos’ 53-man roster but will continue to be paid, and it signals a potential suspension in the near term. Broncos and league observers have noted the disappointment within the organization and the likelihood of the team needing to adjust its edge rush depth in light of possible disciplinary action. Some reporting also frames Cooper’s case within a broader 2026 season timeline, suggesting the team could be without him for significant portions of the year while the matter plays out.