Just days after the Broncos defense handed our Seahawks a tough 17-14 loss on Thursday Night Football, news dropped that Jonathon Cooper, their veteran starting edge rusher, has been removed from the NFL’s Commissioner’s exempt list. The league made the call to take him off the list, meaning he is now eligible to play for Denver in their Week 7 game against the Cardinals next week. If that doesn’t add insult to injury after that crushing loss to Denver, I don’t know what does.
A Major Boost for an Already Formidable Defense
Cooper’s return is a massive boost for a Broncos defense that just put on their best overall performance of the season against our Hawks. Think about it: they already shut us down, and now they’re adding a veteran leader back into the mix. Cooper’s been sidelined for six games, but he’s expected to solidify that edge rusher spot opposite Nik Bonitto. We saw how tough they were to move the ball against, and with Cooper back, that unit just got even tougher. While he was out, Jonah Elliss and Que Robinson stepped up and played well, but getting Cooper back adds a whole new level of experience and playmaking to their pass rush.
The Saga That Led to His Sideline Stint
This wasn’t some random absence, though. Cooper was placed on the Commissioner’s exempt list back on August 30 due to an ongoing felony assault case. He was arrested twice this offseason and is facing felony assault charges. The NFL initiated an investigation under its Personal Conduct Policy, and that review is still ongoing, even with his roster status change. The Broncos themselves expressed their disappointment in Cooper, but they backed their team leader after he completed a 40-day inpatient counseling, therapy, mental health, and overall wellness program. The big reason he’s back on the field now? His trial date got pushed to March, which is during the offseason, instead of November, clearing the way for this move. He had participated in training camp and the preseason, so he’s been around, but this is his first shot at real game action in a long time.
Cooper is set to return against the Arizona Cardinals next week on October 25. You can bet the rest of the league, especially in the AFC West, is watching closely. After what their D just did to our Hawks, this isn’t exactly welcome news for opposing offenses.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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