NFL commissioner Roger Goodell removed Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper from the league's exempt list Friday, clearing him to return to practice and potentially play in the Broncos' Week 7 road game against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 25.
Cooper had been on the exempt list since Aug. 30, after he was arrested twice in a seven-day span in June on domestic violence charges. While on the list, he could not practice or play in games, though he was paid and could attend meetings, weight room and conditioning work. The time he spent on the list, the first six weeks of the regular season, would count toward any future league-mandated suspension. Because suspensions under the personal conduct policy are without pay, he would have to return the weekly game checks he has received if suspended.
The NFL said in a statement that its review of Cooper's case "remains ongoing and is not affected by this change to Cooper's roster status," meaning he could still face discipline under the personal conduct policy. Cooper faces a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation and three misdemeanors, including violating a protection order. A court document cited a nurse's report describing a "substantial risk of death" or injury, including the possibility of traumatic brain injury. Cooper has a pretrial hearing scheduled for Feb. 19 and a March 2-4 trial in Douglas County, Colorado.
Broncos coach Sean Payton has deferred to the NFL investigation and the legal process. Payton said the team set guidelines for Cooper after the arrests, including therapy. Cooper, a seventh-round pick in 2021, has 31.5 sacks in 81 career games with Denver and has started every game in each of the past three seasons. The Broncos are 4-2 after a home win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing