Sean Payton on Jonathon Cooper: We're staying the course with league protocol

Published July 29, 2026 05:34 PM Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper didn’t take part in the team’s minicamp after being arrested twice on domestic violence charges, but he is back with the team and participated in their first practice of training camp on Wednesday. Head coach Sean Payton said on Wednesday that he, General Manager George Paton and team owner Greg Penner all met with Cooper after the arrests and that Cooper completed a counseling program that the team made part of his path to returning. Payton said he is “proud” of the work that Cooper has done since the arrest and that the team will “see where it goes.”“We’re staying the course with league protocol, we’re staying the course with club protocol, relative to what we’re advised to do,” Payton said, via Denver Sports 104.3. “He’s been fantastic working away from the building, and we’ll continue to do that, and monitor it. We’re supportive, and very much aware of the seriousness of these types of things.”Cooper faces an August 31 arraignment on multiple charges, including second-degree count assault by strangulation. In addition to his legal case, Cooper faces potential league discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy.