Jonathon Cooper is back with the Denver Broncos after a six-game stay on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.

Cooper was arrested twice in June on domestic violence charges, which prompted the NFL’s decision to keep him off of the field to start the year. His trial was scheduled for mid-November but was recently moved to the spring. The NFL decided to allow Cooper to play, rather than holding him out for the entire season.

The NFL’s investigation is ongoing and is unlikely to finalize before Cooper’s legal matters are resolved. The league will determine if any further disciplinary action is needed at that time.

Cooper may not take on a full workload in his first game back with the Broncos, but he is expected to be part of the Broncos’ rotation against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Now in the second year of his four-year, $60 million contract, here’s what Cooper brings to the table.

Cooper’s pass-rushing ability is often overshadowed by Nik Bonitto on the other side, but Cooper is a crucial piece of the Broncos’ rush. His 27 sacks in the past three seasons are the 17th most in the NFL.

Cooper’s burst in particular is overshadowed by Bonitto. According to NextGenStats, Cooper ranked fourth in the NFL in speed off the line of scrimmage in 2025. He trailed Myles Garrett, Bonitto and Maxx Crosby.

Cooper is a far better athlete than most of the tackles he faces. He’s able to exploit that by pressing upfield off the snap and turning the corner before the tackle is able to gain enough depth to stop him.

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