Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper pleaded not guilty to multiple domestic violence charges Monday in a Douglas County (Colorado) courtroom.
A trial date for Cooper was set for Nov. 10 with a jury. A pretrial hearing is set for Oct. 30.
The 28-year-old was arrested twice in a seven-day span in June on domestic violence charges, including one felony charge. Cooper was placed on the commissioner exempt list Sunday by the NFL, and he can neither practice nor play in games while he is on the list.
The list is designed to remove a player from participation in games and practices while potential violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy are reviewed. Cooper, who will be paid and can attend meetings, receive medical treatment as well as work out in the team complex while on the exempt list, could still face a league suspension.
"We continue to take this very seriously," Broncos general manager George Paton said Sunday, just after the leaguewide deadline to cut rosters to 53 players. "We're going to monitor all the legal developments and continue to support Jonathon."
Cooper practiced throughout training camp and was one of the few veteran players who played in Friday night's preseason finale. Cooper played eight defensive snaps in Denver's 34-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Cooper faces a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation and three misdemeanors, including violating a protection order, after he was arrested June 4 and then again June 11 after incidents with his girlfriend. The felony charge stems from the first arrest after the results of a forensic examination of Cooper's girlfriend by a nurse.
The affidavit that was included in the police investigation into Cooper's first arrest included the report from the medical exam of Cooper's girlfriend. In it a nurse wrote that the woman experienced a physical injury from being choked that led to a "substantial risk of death" or substantial risk of injury, including the possibility of traumatic brain injury.
Denver coach Sean Payton has consistently deferred to the NFL's investigation and the legal process when he has discussed the team's approach with the sixth-year linebacker. Payton said the guidelines the Broncos set for Cooper after the arrest have included therapy.
Cooper was a seventh-round pick by Denver in the 2021 draft and has 31.5 sacks in 81 career games, including eight sacks last season. He has started every game in each of the past three seasons.
