The Broncos’ initial 53-man roster dropped, and man, there’s already drama. Edge rusher Jonathon Cooper is heading to the NFL commissioner’s exempt list, and it’s because his arraignment for five domestic violence related charges is tomorrow. This isn’t just a roster tweak, folks, this is a major hit to start the 2026 season.
An Edge Rusher Gone, And Why It Matters
So what does the exempt list even mean? For now, Cooper won’t count against the 53-man roster. He’s sidelined away from the team to kick off the season. While the legal process plays out, there’s a strong likelihood he’ll get suspended down the line. That’s a huge blow to the pass rush, no doubt. But hey, it means third-year guy Jonah Elliss and second-year standout Que Robinson are about to get a ton of extended reps early on. Dondrea Tillman is in the mix too, which is cool. Personally, I think four edge rushers feels a tad light to start the season. There are still a few weeks until opening day, so maybe they’re eyeing a waiver pickup or a veteran. Or they just elevate someone from the practice squad if they need to. Either way, this situation has completely reshuffled the deck up front.
Three Quarterbacks? Seriously?
Then there’s the quarterback situation. The Broncos opted to carry three QBs on the active roster. I gotta be honest, I don’t really see the need for it. But obviously, the Broncos’ brass had a different take. Turns out, Sam Ehlinger’s performance against the Vikings was enough to earn him a spot. Both Head Coach Sean Payton and Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb have been hyping him up all offseason, seeing some serious “untapped potential” in the guy. And you know how critical the QB position is in the NFL. GM George Paton broke it down after the roster was finalized, saying, “Sam is a big part of this quarterback room. We didn’t want to lose him, and we felt we were going to lose him. He’s too important to our team and just didn’t want to risk doing that. Obviously, the game he played the other night was outstanding. We love the room. We’re going to keep the room together.” Plus, this is the last year of Jarrett Stidham’s deal, so maybe Ehlinger is their top backup for next season. It’s a gamble, for sure, but they’re clearly high on the kid.
So there you have it, the initial 53 is out, but with Cooper’s situation and that unique three-QB setup, things are anything but settled. The season opener is just a few weeks away, and these moves are gonna be tested fast. I can’t wait to see how it all shakes out on the field!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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