Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper participated in the team's first training camp practice on Wednesday, despite facing a looming court date related to domestic violence charges. Cooper was arrested in June following an initial domestic dispute with his girlfriend and has since been charged with harassment and violating a protection order.
Denver head coach Sean Payton stated that Cooper has completed a team-created counseling program and that the franchise is monitoring the situation. "We're staying the course with league protocol, we're staying the course with club protocol, relative to what we're advised to do," Payton told reporters. "He's been fantastic working away from the building and we'll continue to do that and monitor it. We're supportive and very much aware of the seriousness of these types of things."
Cooper and his girlfriend were arrested on June 5 on domestic violence charges. A protection order was issued, prohibiting contact between Cooper and his girlfriend, Jade Fiegen. Cooper was initially held on suspicion of domestic violence and criminal mischief. Fiegen was also booked for domestic violence following a physical altercation, reportedly over allegations of infidelity against Cooper.
Shortly after the initial arrest, Cooper was charged with additional offenses, including felony second-degree assault by strangulation, misdemeanor third-degree assault, harassment for repeated phone calls, and violation of a civil protection order. Cooper's last court appearance was on July 24, with his next scheduled for August 31. On that date, he will be asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Cooper was selected by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He has played in every game for the past three seasons, accumulating 27 sacks and becoming a key part of the Broncos' defense. He was instrumental in the team's playoff run last season, which ended in the AFC Championship game. In November 2024, the Broncos signed Cooper to a four-year contract extension valued at up to $60 million, with $33 million guaranteed.