Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper was the only defensive starter to see action in Friday’s preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings. He played the first two series and finished with nine snaps in a 34-6 win while nearly every other expected contributor sat out.
Head coach Sean Payton said the decision was tied in part to Cooper’s uncertain availability heading into the regular season.
Cooper Pleaded Not Guilty to All Charges on Monday
Cooper pleaded not guilty to all charges Monday in a Douglas County courtroom. A jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 10, during the Broncos’ bye week.
The charges stem from two June incidents involving his then-girlfriend. They include second-degree felony assault by strangulation, third-degree assault, criminal mischief, violation of a protective order, and harassment. He was arrested on June 4 and again several days later for allegedly violating a protection order.
The NFL Acted Before the Roster Deadline
The NFL’s review under its personal conduct policy has already produced a result: Commissioner Roger Goodell placed Cooper on the commissioner’s exempt list Sunday, ahead of the 4 p.m. roster cutdown deadline. The designation keeps Cooper off the 53-man roster while he continues to collect a prorated share of his $12 million salary this year, minus a $30,000 game-roster bonus for every game he misses.
He can attend meetings, work out at the facility, and receive treatment, but cannot practice or play. A formal suspension under the personal conduct policy, which carries a baseline six games for assault-related violations, remains a separate possibility once the league’s investigation concludes.
Mike Klis of 9News, who first reported Saturday that Cooper’s limited snaps signaled the move was coming, has said the expectation is that Cooper’s stay on the list will run somewhere between two and six games, though the exact length is at Goodell’s discretion and hasn’t been announced.
Payton said earlier this week that he expected clarity soon. He added that the media would likely learn of any decision at the same time the team does. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold reported that the organization is preparing for some form of suspension or list placement. Team officials have expressed concern about roster logistics if the league has not acted by Sunday’s 4 p.m. cutdown deadline.
Payton had said earlier in the week that he expected clarity soon, and that the media would likely learn of any decision at the same time the team did. That played out Sunday: the league’s move came in ahead of the 4 p.m. cutdown deadline, meaning Denver didn’t have to make a corresponding roster cut to accommodate Cooper’s absence.
Elliss and Robinson Step Into Larger Roles Without Cooper
With Cooper unavailable for Week 1 at Kansas City and beyond, the Broncos are turning to their depth at outside linebacker. Nik Bonitto remains the clear top edge player. Jonah Elliss steps into the starting lineup opposite him. Dondrea Tillman moves into a more prominent rotational role, and Que Robinson advances into regular fourth-man duties
Current depth charts now list Bonitto and Elliss as the starters, with Tillman and Robinson as the primary backups. The group is deep enough that the Broncos felt comfortable trimming rather than adding at the position during final cuts: Denver waived both Dasan McCullough and Ron Stone Jr. as part of Sunday’s roster moves, while signing David Agoha to the practice squad.
Cooper’s Absence Tests One of the NFL’s Best Pass Rushes
Denver’s pass rush ranked among the NFL’s best over the past two seasons. The Broncos set a franchise record with 63 sacks in 2024 and raised the mark to 68 in 2025. Their sack differential across those two years ranked well ahead of every other team.
Cooper himself has been a consistent producer. He recorded 10.5 sacks in 2024 and 8.0 sacks in 2025, finishing second on the team behind Bonitto’s 14.0. He has not missed a game over the past three seasons and has totaled 27 sacks in that span. PFF graded him a 66.3 overall defender in 2025 and credited him with 51 pressures.
Any absence would reduce the unit’s experience and volume, particularly against the run where Cooper has been reliable. Yet the combination of Bonitto’s production, Elliss’s rising pressure ability, Robinson’s developmental upside, and interior disruption from Zach Allen and the defensive line should keep the pass rush effective.
Elliss Has Earned the Coaching Staff’s Trust on the Edge
Jonah Elliss has put himself in position to handle a larger workload. The 2024 third-round pick recorded 5.0 sacks as a rookie rotational player and added 2.5 sacks in an injury-shortened 2025 season across 13 games. His pressure rate climbed to 14.3 percent last year. PFF graded him a 75.8 overall defender in 2025, ranking 25th among qualified edge players.
Sean Payton has repeatedly praised Elliss’s growth on the edge. “He’s doing too well outside,” Payton said during OTAs when asked about a possible move inside. More recently, Payton noted “He’s really ascending as an edge player and we didn’t want to disrupt that.” Elliss himself has embraced the expanded opportunity. “Whatever I can do to help us get to a championship is what I’ll do,” he said.
Robinson’s Limited Reps Have Already Impressed the Broncos
Que Robinson, a 2025 fourth-round selection out of Alabama, saw limited defensive snaps as a rookie (150) but made the most of them.
He finished with 0.5 sacks in the regular season and added a full sack of Drake Maye in the AFC Championship Game. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has been especially high on the second-year player.
“After the season, watching the cut-ups, when Que played, he played really well,” Joseph said. “It looked like a guy who could be a future starter for us. It’s our job to keep improving with Que and get him more reps. Last year, he didn’t dress a lot of games, but when he dressed, he played well.”
Robinson has continued that upward trend this summer. He has consistently stressed the offensive tackles in camp and recorded a preseason sack.
Together, Elliss and Robinson give the Broncos two ascending young edge players who have already earned the trust of the coaching staff. Their combination of production in limited roles and steady improvement provides a clear path forward if Cooper is sidelined.
Denver’s Depth Will Be Tested Early in a Brutal Opening Stretch
The Broncos open the season on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 14, without Cooper. How many additional games he misses will depend on the league’s ongoing investigation.
With the trial set for November, Cooper could remain on the exempt list well beyond the original two-to-six game window. Beyond the opener, Denver’s schedule includes the Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks. This stretch that could define just how much of Cooper’s absence the Broncos have to weather.
In the meantime, the team has a next-man-up plan already in motion, built around Elliss, Tillman, and Robinson. The same depth that made the pass rush a strength the last two years now serves as the primary safety net.
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