Denver Broncos take major hit to their roster ahead of Week 1 tilt against Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football
The Denver Broncos will be without OLB Jonathon Cooper in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against the Kansas City Chiefs. This comes as the NFL places him on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.
The NFL has dealt a major blow to the Denver Broncos ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 1 matchup. According to NFL Insider Tom Pelissero, the NFL is placing Broncos OLB Jonathan Cooper on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Cooper faces a felony assault charge and other charges in relation to multiple arrests this offseason. He will be paid while on the list, but he will not be allowed to practice or play. This type of situation is unlikely to be resolved ahead of the Week 1 game against Kansas City.
Cooper’s absence leaves a significant void in Denver’s pass rush
There’s no doubt that this is a major blow for the Broncos. Over the past three seasons, Cooper has been one of Denver’s top pass rushers with 27 sacks and a number of pressures produced during that span. While the Broncos do have quite a bit of depth at the edge rusher position, Cooper is undoubtedly one of the team’s best players. Sans a successful appeal, he will not be available for that Week 1 game. He could also have a development in his case that could impact his status.
Players who could see an opportunity in place of Cooper include Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, and Que Robinson. Nik Bonitto starts opposite Cooper, but Denver likely won’t be able to generate the same level of pressure while rushing with just four players. That’s a positive for Kansas City because they’re facing uncertainty of their own
What this means for Kansas City’s offensive line questions
This is big news for a Chiefs O-Line with some questions heading into Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. The biggest questions center on who will start at right tackle and whether left tackle Josh Simmons will be healthy enough to play. Is it Jaylon Moore or UDFA rookie Kahlil Benson at right tackle in Week 1? Is Josh Simmons’ back healed? There’s also right guard Trey Smith. He dealt with a hip injury this offseason, but played in preseason Week 3, making that less of a concern.
The two bookend tackle positions for Kansas City remain question marks. Cooper’s absence from the Broncos’ defense will certainly factor into that equation. Losing one of the league’s better pass rushers provides some breathing room for a Chiefs offensive line still sorting out its starting five. When these two teams meet on the bright lights of Monday Night Football for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, Kansas City should feel a bit more comfortable up front knowing Cooper won’t be lining up across from them.
