Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper pleaded not guilty Monday in Douglas County, Colorado, to multiple domestic violence charges, with a jury trial date set for Nov. 10 and a pretrial hearing scheduled for Oct. 30.
He was arrested twice in a seven-day span in June on domestic violence charges, including one felony. Cooper was placed on the NFL commissioner exempt list Sunday, which removes a player from participation in games and practices while the league reviews potential violations of its personal conduct policy. He can attend team meetings, receive medical treatment and use the team complex for workouts while on the list and will be paid. He could still face a league suspension.
Broncos general manager George Paton said Sunday that the organization is taking the situation very seriously, is monitoring all legal developments and continues to support Cooper.
The charges
He faces a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation and three misdemeanors, including violating a protection order. The charges stem from incidents involving his girlfriend, with the first arrest on June 4 and a second arrest on June 11.
The felony charge arose from the first arrest following the results of a forensic examination conducted by a nurse. The affidavit included in the police investigation documented the nurse’s findings that his girlfriend had sustained a physical injury from being choked that created a substantial risk of death or substantial risk of injury, including the possibility of traumatic brain injury.
Denver’s response
Broncos coach Sean Payton said Monday he was notified of the plea and trial date after practice, since the hearing took place at the same time. Payton has consistently deferred to both the NFL investigation and the legal process when discussing the team’s approach to the situation. He said the guidelines Denver set following the arrest included therapy.
Payton confirmed Cooper will continue attending meetings, working out in the weight room and participating in any available injury treatment as allowed under the exempt list rules, and that the team will wait for the process to play out.
Cooper’s role with the Broncos
Cooper practiced throughout Broncos training camp and played eight defensive snaps in Denver’s 34-6 preseason finale win over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday. He has started every game in each of the past three seasons for Denver, has 31.5 career sacks in 81 games and recorded eight sacks last season. He was a seventh-round pick in the 2021 draft.
The Nov. 10 trial date falls during the Broncos regular season. The NFL’s separate conduct investigation operates independently of the criminal process, and the league can choose to impose discipline before, during or after the legal proceedings conclude.
