Cooper returns to Broncos practice, speaks publicly for first time since arrests

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Broncos edge rusher Jonathon Cooper spoke publicly Wednesday for the first time since being arrested twice in June for domestic-violence charges that resulted in him facing a trial next March, as well as a six-week stint on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.

Cooper declined to discuss the charges specifically, as well as the conversations he had with Broncos officials in the wake of the two arrests, deferring to letting the legal process play itself out.

But in an Instagram post last week, Cooper alluded to spending “a lot of time working to better myself.” That included in-patient therapy in June and July prior to his return to the field for training camp.

“A lot of work when it comes to just mentally and physically making sure I’m the best ‘Coop’ that I can be for my family, for my teammates,” he said.

“I represent more than just myself, so, that work transcends far beyond just me putting in stuff on the field or anything like that.”

The “work” to which he referred often isn’t done,” Cooper said.

“I think this: It’s a continuous thing with this work. The work doesn’t just stop now. This is just a starting process and it’s only going to continue to get better, so, the fruits will pay off; the fruits will show itself.”

But when asked what he would say to women who are Broncos fans but would be reluctant to support him given the allegations against him, Cooper responded thusly:

“That’s hard. I feel like relationships are difficult. No excuses on my end. And I do apologize for anybody’s feelings, truthfully, just because they have to be associated with me. I’m a grown man. I’m able to take things on the chin, and just want to say that I understand the concern; I understand the level of awareness, how serious these matters are.

 

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“But the legal matters will take care of themselves, and yeah, things happen. Nobody’s perfect, but there is also — there’s no excuses and I do hold myself accountable and yeah, things are going to sort themselves out. I promise that.”

Cooper faces trial for the charges against him beginning March 2.

ON THE FIELD, COOPER MADE HIS PRESENCE FELT, BUT BRONCOS COULD LIMIT HIS REPS SUNDAY

As fellow Broncos edge rusher Que Robinson observed, Cooper brought intensity in his first practice since the preseason.

“I had to talk him down from hurting one of the rookie tight ends,” Robinson said. “Just a normal run block, basic blocking play, and he damn near killed the kid.

“That’s what you get. He only knows one motion, and it’s full-head-of-steam. He don’t know how to slow down; it’s just full-go, all the time with him.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton inferred that Cooper could be on a pitch count if he plays Sunday at Arizona.

“It’s just getting acclimated, and then if that’s the case, what’s the pitch count?” Payton said. “All those things as you come back in.”

With edge rusher Jonah Elliss not practicing due to a right-leg injury that left him on crutches over the weekend, Cooper is expected to play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, although Broncos coach Sean Payton inferred that Cooper could be on a pitch count.

“It’s just getting acclimated, and then if that’s the case, what’s the pitch count?” Payton said. “All those things as you come back in.”

For those snaps, Cooper vowed to give “150 percent.”

“I owe it to this team, I owe it to my family, and the fans — everybody who has spoken my name,” Cooper said.

“I owe it to them to show the type of person, type of player I am, and yeah, I’ll be able to do whatever the team asks for me.”

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