Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper had been on the Commissioner Exempt List for the first six games of the 2026 NFL Season due to some offseason legal troubles. The veteran has not been able to play in games since being put on that list.
On Friday, news broke that Cooper was removed from the list. The veteran pass-rusher is now eligible to play again and could suit up as early as Week 7, which is on November 25th against the Arizona Cardinals.
Cooper does have a trial for his offseason legal troubles is March 2-4 of 2027.
Denver Broncos' Jonathon Cooper is eligible to play football again after being on the exempt list for six games
Cooper being removed from the list does not mean his future with the Broncos is in the clear. The trial, depending on how it goes, could impact his 2027 standing with the team.
Per source, the NFL removed Jonathon Cooper from the Commissioner Exempt List. The Broncos OLB will be eligible to play in the Broncos’ Week 7 game on Oct. 25 after missing six games.
— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) October 16, 2026
The NFL initiated an investigation under the Personal Conduct Policy following Cooper’s…
Since the trial is not until March, Cooper still could, in theory, be suspended by the NFL. Right now, as 2026 is concerned, he appears to be fully eligible now after not being able to practice or play in games across the first month and a half of the season.
Cooper, now in his age-28 season, started in all 17 games from 2023-2025 for the Broncos. During that time, he amassed 27 sacks, 180 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 49 quarterback hits.
His on-field impact has been missed, as Cooper is the best EDGE run defender the Broncos have, and they have been a bit soft against the run this year. We still have seen the pass rush remain dominant, but that's really only been across the past couple of weeks.
With Cooper now off the list, he'll have some extended time to get re-acclimated to the practice flow before the Broncos Week 7 showdown against the Arizona Cardinals. Denver did see EDGE Jonah Elliss go down in Week 6 with some sort of lower-body injury, so in terms of personnel, Cooper being eligible to play is coming at a solid time.
It is again important to note that Cooper being off the list does not mean he is free from future NFL discipline. For the time being, though, the veteran pass-rusher can return. When he and Nik Bonitto are on the field together, there might not be three better EDGE duos in the sport.
And if the Broncos hope to win the Super Bowl this year, they will need Cooper's unique skillset.
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