Broncos LB Jonathon Cooper reportedly excused from mandatory minicamp after domestic-violence arrests
Content warning: This article contains depictions of alleged domestic violence.
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper will not attend the team's mandatory minicamp after he was arrested multiple times in June due to an alleged domestic-violence situation, per multiple media reports.
Cooper, 28, was excused from team minicamp, per Mike Klis of 9News.
Cooper was initially arrested on June 5 after an alleged domestic-violence incident with his girlfriend. Cooper was alleged to have grabbed his girlfriend by the neck and lifted her off the ground, per an affidavit. Cooper then allegedly prevented his girlfriend from leaving and threw her to the ground multiple times. Cooper was also accused of putting his girlfriend's phone in his mouth and biting down on it until it broke.
He and his girlfriend were charged with two counts of domestic violence and one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief, per 9News.com. Cooper was later charged with an "additional felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation and a charge of third-degree assault," per 9News.com.
As part of the initial arrest, Cooper received a protection order, preventing him from contacting his girlfriend.
A week after that incident, Cooper violated that protection order and was arrested a second time. He received four new charges for violating that order.
Following Cooper's second arrest, the Broncos put out a statement saying the team was "disappointed" to learn about the arrest.
After starting out his NFL career as a part-time player, Cooper has emerged as a key member of the Broncos' defense over the last three seasons. During that time, he's racked up 27 sacks and 180 combined tackles.
He was set to enter the 2026 season as one of the team's starting options at linebacker prior to his two offseason arrests.
Depending on how his legal situation progresses, Cooper could be subject to punishment from the NFL ahead of — or during — the 2026 season.
