Broncos' Jonathon Cooper Pleads Not Guilty in Domestic Violence Case and Trial Is Set for November

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper pleaded not guilty Monday in a Douglas County courtroom to multiple charges stemming from altercations with his then-girlfriend in June. A jury trial has been scheduled to begin on Nov. 10.

Cooper was placed on the commissioner's exempt list Sunday, meaning he'll continue to get paid for the time being and will be allowed inside the team's training facility but cannot practice with the team or play in any games.

"It's part of the process," general manager George Paton said in a conference call Sunday night after the team's 53-man roster was set. "We continue to take this very seriously. We're going to continue to monitor all the legal developments and continue to support Jonathon. Jonathon's worked very hard to better himself and it'll be good to have him in the building, be in meetings and just be a part of the team."

Cooper pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation and three misdemeanors, including violating a protection order a week after his first arrest on June 4. The strangulation charge stemmed from his first arrest after a forensic nurse examined Cooper's then-girlfriend.

Cooper was allowed to participate in training camp and on Friday was one of the Broncos' captains in their preseason finale, a 34-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

The league is investigating Cooper's situation and the sixth-year pro could face a lengthy suspension under the NFL's domestic violence policy. Any games he misses while on the exempt list would count toward his suspension, but he would also have to repay the money he earned while on the exempt list

"We wait on the league," coach Sean Payton said after practice Monday. "The difference now is he's in the facility, he's lifting, he's in the meetings; he can't practice. And then we just wait for this process to play out."

Cooper, who has started 52 consecutive games for the Broncos, is a key member of a defense that has led the league in sacks each of the past two seasons. He was told to stay away from the Broncos' mandatory minicamp in June following his second arrest in the span of a week.

The Broncos decided not to release Cooper, who's due $12 million this season. He was allowed to participate in training camp after attending an inpatient clinic near Vail for more than a month.

Jonah Elliss, Que Robinson and Dondrea Tillman are set to expand their workload in Cooper's absence.

"I think those guys all bring different skill sets and traits of why they're all good," said right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who squared off against all three during training camp. "Each guy brings something a little bit different in how they rush, how they set the edge, but all of them are very successful at doing it and they're going to do a great job when they get plugged in there."