Broncos' Jonathon Cooper, Packers' Josh Jacobs placed on Commissioner’s Exempt List

Neither player will be able to practice or play for their respective teams while on the list, which opens up a roster spot for both teams. 

Cooper, 28, is facing five charges, including second-degree assault (felony),  after being arrested twice over the summer in domestic incidents involving his former girlfriend. 

Cooper is owed $12 million this season as he's still under a three-year, $30 million contract, and will still be paid while he's on leave. 

He's coming off three straight seasons with at least eight sacks, setting a career-high in 2024 (10.5), while playing in all 17 regular season games in each. 

Meanwhile, Jacobs, who was charged just last week with two misdemeanors, including battery and criminal damage to property, was formerly arrested in May on five counts that included: battery/domestic abuse, criminal damage to property/domestic abuse, disorderly conduct/domestic abuse, strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim.

Jacobs, 28, has spent the past two seasons with the Packers after playing the first five years of his career with the Las Vegas Raiders. After rushing for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024, Jacobs posted his third-lowest rushing total (929) of his career last season, but found the end zone on the ground 13 times, second-most of his career. 

The veteran running back is in the third year of his four-year, $48 million contract and is set to make $14.5 million this season.

Like Cooper, Jacobs will also be barred from practicing or playing in games until legal matters off the field and with the NFL are fully resolved. 

Green Bay kicks off their 2026 regular season on September 13th against the Minnesota Vikings, while Denver start their season in primetime against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, September 14th.