Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathan Cooper reported to training camp at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit alongside his teammates on Tuesday, and the message from the organization could not have been louder.

Cooper faces a felony domestic violence charge and two misdemeanors. The charges stem from an alleged argument with his then-girlfriend in June over his cell phone. Cooper has yet to be arraigned, with a court hearing recently pushed back to Aug. 31. Cooper was permitted to report, despite significant off-field questions hanging over him.

Questions had surrounded whether Cooper would report to camp on schedule. Denver excused Cooper from mandatory minicamp earlier this summer, and the reasoning was not immediately clear. However, 9News’ Mike Klis has since reported that Cooper was in treatment for more than a month and stayed in close contact with the team during his stay at a treatment facility.

With his legal situation pending, one thing is now clear.

The Broncos are betting on Cooper

With Denver allowing Cooper to report, the organization is throwing its support behind the outside linebacker. The Broncos are willing to absorb any off-field distraction and the questions that will follow throughout training camp. Denver is attempting to build upon its 2025 season. Any distractions that could take away from that progress are ones coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton would undoubtedly prefer to avoid.

The NFL still has an ongoing investigation into Cooper’s situation. The league typically does not rule on player punishment for off-field incidents until all legal proceedings have concluded. Whatever consequences may follow his arraignment, discipline from the league office could bleed into the 2026 NFL season.

Cooper faces an automatic six-game suspension if the league finds him guilty of domestic violence, in accordance with the Personal Conduct Policy. If he were suspended, Cooper would still be allowed to participate in training camp and the preseason. The league also has the Commissioner’s Exempt List in its back pocket if it wanted to use it.

Is this the right bet for Denver?

Cooper was arrested twice, with the second arrest stemming from a violation of a protective order the court put in place after his initial arrest. The Broncos are betting that this will not happen again, but it’s worth questioning whether that’s a good bet.

Denver has more than enough talent and pass rush depth to get by without Cooper. If having him around leads to another incident, there’s reason to doubt Payton and Paton’s decision. At the same time, allowing Cooper to participate in football could help keep him focused and out of further trouble. It’s a calculated risk by the Broncos as they seek to figure out a path forward with one of their star pass rushers.

Cooper’s production speaks for itself

Cooper appeared in all 17 regular-season games last season, recording eight sacks and 50 total tackles. It was the third consecutive season with eight or more sacks for the outside linebacker, making him a significant piece of what Denver is trying to build on defense.

The talent is not in question. The off-field situation is. And by allowing Cooper to report to camp without hesitation, the Broncos have made their stance clear without saying a word.