Jonathon

Cooper

Cooper’s deal includes $33 million in guaranteed money, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Cooper was a seventh-round pick of the Broncos back in 2021 and has carved out a nice career for himself thus far. He’s totaled 18.5 sacks in 56 career games and is sitting on 5.5 sacks through his first nine games of this season. He’s on pace to surpass last season’s 8.5 sack total — which set a new career high, and has been an instrumental piece of Sean Payton’s defense since Payton arrived in the Mile High City in 2023. Now secured through the 2028 season, Cooper will remain a key piece of the defense for years to come.

Turner has struggled with the knee injury dating back to camp and still isn’t ready to set foot on the field against the 49ers. Cameron Fleming will protect the blindside for Russell Wilson against San Francisco’s pass rush. Also inactive for the Broncos are: WR Jalen Virgil, WR Tyrie Cleveland (hamstring), CB Darius Phillips (hamstring), S Delarrin Turner-Yell, OLB Jonathon Cooper (hamstring), and DL Eyioma Uwazurike

Cooper will have a “minimally invasive procedure” to deal with an irregular heartbeat. The condition may have led to Cooper falling until the final round of the draft. Cooper expects to only miss a few weeks and be ready for training camp.

Born and bred into an Ohio State family, Cooper (6’2/253) grew up in the Columbus area and realized his boyhood dream of playing for the Buckeyes. A five-star prospect who was rated as the third best weakside defensive end from the 2016 prep class according to 247Sports, he was crowned as the Ohio Defensive Player of the Year as a high school senior. A locker room leader and program tone-setter, Cooper was named a two-time team captain. Sat out the remainder of his 2019 season after suffering a high-ankle injury that cost him 10 games so he could preserve his redshirt, return to school in 2020 to boost his draft profile and finish his OSU career on a high note. That’s just what he did, as Cooper achieved All-Big Ten status for a second time while registering 24 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a 21 percent pass rush win rate and a crisp 90.5 pass rush grade on the year. He brings heavy hands and a tireless motor to his approach, which helps him to convert his speed into power. Not a threat to corner on tackles on the edge due to his tight frame and failed to record a single non-sack TFL in eight 2020 contests. He tested pretty well, throwing up 28 bench reps (90th percentile), a 4.71 40-yard dash (86th) and a 7.02 second 3-cone (90th). He lacks the requisite length to be a true every down threat in the NFL and would likely be destined for a reserve, passing down 4-3 defensive end role if he can stick.

Cooper (6'4/257) has only appeared in three games this season, meaning that he can only play in one more if this season of eligibility is to be preserved. The senior defensive end has been dealing with undisclosed health issues for much of this season, and for that reason Day wants to redshirt Cooper with an eye towards 2020. “He deserves to play a full senior year, and I know he wants to,” Day said on Tuesday. And with Chase Young expected to be a top-5 pick in next spring’s draft, bringing a healthy Cooper back would help fill that void next season.

Cooper (6'4/257) has missed each of OSU’s last two games due to an undisclosed health issue. Back now. OSU had to “survive” the absences of starters Cooper and Chase Young (NCAA rules) on the line against helpless opponents Maryland and Rutgers these past two weekends. Both will play against Penn State upcoming.

Cooper (6'4/257) has had an up-and-down season on the health front, missing the first four games of the campaign before making his debut, but then again being forced out due to injury for the last two contests. Make it three straight with Saturday’s expected sitting. The Buckeyes will also be out Chase Young on the defensive line, with Young suspended versus the Scarlet Knights due to an NCAA ruling. Tyreke Smith, Tyler Friday, Zack Harrison and Javontae Jean-Baptiste are all names to watch with OSU somewhat thin on the defensive front.

OSU is dealing with notable absences at defensive end for Saturday. The big one is Chase Young, out due to a possible NCAA rules violation involving a past loan from a family friend. Then there’s Cooper, out for more boilerplate, injury-related reasons. The 6-foot-4, 257-pound senior missed the first four games of the campaign before briefly returning to action, but sat against Wisconsin prior to OSU’s bye week and will be sitting once more versus the Terps upcoming. Look for Tyreke Smith, Tyler Friday, Zack Harrison and Javontae Jean-Baptiste to all be tasked with helping to cover for the losses of Young and Cooper.

Cooper (6'4/257) was considered a game-time decision against the Badgers, and it appears that the decision has been made. He’s in street clothes in warmups, so there’s no chance of seeing the talented EDGE on Saturday in the key matchup with Wisconsin.

Cooper (6'4/257) sat out the first four games of the campaign nursing an undisclosed injury concern, but OSU will finally, finally getting the senior back in the fold this weekend (barring setback). Tyler Friday and Zach Harrison figure to see rotational work along with Cooper as the team looks to get him back up to speed for conference play.