The NFL has removed Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper from the Commissioner's Exempt List, according to the league's announcement as carried by Pro Football Talk. Cooper is eligible to play in Week 7, when Denver visits the Cardinals.

The timing follows a scheduling change in his legal case. NFL Trade Rumors, citing Mike Klis of 9NEWS Denver, said Klis reported earlier this week that Cooper's jury trial was moved from November 10 to March 2-4. That, per the report, made him eligible to come off the list. Klis also said the removal would take effect Friday.

Yahoo Sports' Andy Backstrom describes the move as a reinstatement. He writes that Cooper was placed on the exempt list after an alleged incident of domestic violence. The other summaries we have do not describe the underlying allegation. Adam Pelissero's report, as posted on r/nfl, says Cooper missed Denver's first six games while the league investigated a potential personal conduct violation. That post spells his first name "Jonathan"; the other outlets and our records use Jonathon. Sportsnet's headline adds that Packers running back Jacobs is also coming off the exempt list. We have no further detail on that case.

Denver managed without him. The Broncos are 4-2 and second in the AFC West, on a two-game winning streak. They beat Seattle 17-14 on Thursday night and The Chargers 23-17 on the road the previous Sunday, after a 24-14 loss at San Francisco on Oct. 4. Yahoo describes Cooper as a veteran starting edge rusher, so he returns to a front that has held up in his absence.

Last season Cooper played 17 games with 50 total tackles and 8 sacks. Those are the numbers Denver gets back, and he has no 2026 stats because he has not played yet.

The return comes against a struggling opponent. Arizona is 1-4, fourth in the NFC West and has lost four straight. That includes a 45-21 home loss to Detroit on Oct. 11. The Cardinals play at the Rams on Sunday before Denver visits on Oct. 25. The reporting does not say whether Cooper will start that day or if the league's conduct review will bring further discipline.