Denver Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper was finally back on the practice field Wednesday, removed from the commissioner’s exempt list late last week and eligible to play this Sunday against the Cardinals. It’s a huge moment for the 28 year old, who’s making $12 million this season, but don’t forget the elephant in the room: he still faces a felony strangulation charge with a trial date looming next spring.
“They Didn’t Give Up On Me”
Cooper himself spoke to reporters at his locker, saying he’s “so thankful for my teammates and this organization.” He mentioned putting “a lot of work in this offseason on myself and for my family and for this team,” adding that he’s “really excited to be back and really excited to get to work.” This guy has been through it since June, when he was arrested not once, but twice. The initial arrest on June 4th followed an argument and physical confrontation with his then-girlfriend, leading to that felony strangulation charge. A week later, he was arrested again for violating a protection order.
He was held out of mandatory minicamp, but after spending several weeks in voluntary therapy, he did participate in training camp and preseason. While he was on the exempt list, he could attend meetings and work out at team headquarters, but couldn’t practice. Now, with this one week roster exemption, he’s back. Cooper said he never feared the Broncos would cut ties, explaining, “No, no, obviously matters are serious and you need to handle things as a grown man and responsibility is in order, you’ve got to hold yourself accountable.” He stressed that he’s “definitely holding myself accountable for just everything,” and that he “owes it to my teammates a lot for just being here and just really thankful to be back. And thankful that they didn’t give up on me.” It sounds like he’s committed to a comeback, on and off the field, saying the work “doesn’t stop now” and that he needs to be the “best ‘Coop’ I can be for my family, my teammates.”
The Legal Cloud Still Hangs Over the Field
While Cooper is back in uniform and ready to roll for the Broncos, the legal battle is far from over. That felony strangulation trial is locked in for March 2nd to 4th. Plus, the NFL’s own review into his conduct for a potential violation of their personal conduct policy is still ongoing, and his current status change doesn’t affect that at all. He opted not to discuss his conversations with the Broncos about the arrests, citing respect for the legal process.
The Broncos, sitting at a decent 4-2 record, could use all the help they can get, and getting their $12 million pass rusher back is a big deal. Cooper says he’s ready, telling everyone, “Whatever my coaches and whatever my team needs of me, they’re going to get 100% of me. They’re going to get the best version of me. I owe it to this team. I owe it to my family and the fans, everybody who you know has spoken my name. I owe it to them to show the type of person and player I am.”
The Broncos roll into Arizona this Sunday to take on the 2-4 Cardinals. Cooper is eligible to play, and you know he’s going to be looking to prove himself on the field after everything. What a story to watch unfold, both on the gridiron and in the courtroom.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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