The Denver Broncos got a pass rusher back Friday, and the timing could hardly be better. The NFL removed Jonathon Cooper from the commissioner’s exempt list after six games, but the league is still reviewing his case, and we explained how a suspension could count as time served if discipline comes down.
As of Monday, Cooper is eligible to play at Arizona on Sunday, Oct. 25, unless the league acts first. Denver may need him right away, because Jonah Elliss spent the weekend on crutches. Fans from Highlands Ranch to Thornton also watched Kansas City beat the Chargers 22-6 on Sunday. Here are five questions Broncos fans are asking with the Cardinals up next.
Will Jonathon Cooper play vs. the Cardinals?
He’s eligible, and nothing official stands in the way yet. Cooper spent Denver’s first six games on the exempt list after two arrests in June, and he has pleaded not guilty to felony assault by strangulation, with a trial set for March. The NFL said its personal conduct review remains ongoing and unaffected by the roster change, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones reported that six games is the minimum suspension for domestic violence under the policy. A six-game ban would count as time served, though Cooper would have to repay the six game checks he collected while on the list.
If he plays, Denver gets back a starter with at least eight sacks in each of the last three seasons. Cooper had 10.5 sacks in 2024 and eight in 2025, and he has 31.5 career sacks in 81 games. He hasn’t played a snap this season, so a full workload in his first game back would be a surprise.
How bad is Jonah Elliss’ injury?
Denver hasn’t given a diagnosis, but the signs aren’t great. Elliss got caught underneath Alex Singleton’s hit on Sam Darnold late in the fourth quarter Thursday, hopped off on one leg and was carted to the locker room.
KCNC’s Romi Bean then posted a photo of Elliss in a walking boot and on crutches at Folsom Field during Saturday night’s Utah-Colorado game. A boot alone can be routine. Crutches two days later point to something that could cost him real time, and injured reserve would sideline him for at least four games.
Losing him hurts. Elliss started all six games in Cooper’s place and had six pressures on 38 snaps against Seattle, according to PFF, as our Week 6 snap counts showed. Quandarrius Robinson also had six pressures and a 75.0 grade in that game, according to PFF, so he and Cooper are the likeliest pair to absorb those snaps across from Nik Bonitto.
Will Pat Surtain II return at Arizona?
The reporting is split. 9NEWS’ Mike Klis said there is hope Surtain can return against the Cardinals, while NFL on Prime’s James Palmer reported that Week 8 is more likely for the ankle injury. That would line Surtain up for the Nov. 1 rematch with Kansas City.
Talanoa Hufanga is in a similar spot. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the safety’s ankle would cost him two to three weeks after he got hurt Oct. 11, which puts Arizona at the early end of that window. Riley Moss played only 20 snaps Thursday in his first game back from a rib injury.
The young corners need the help. Jahdae Barron allowed nine catches on 12 targets against Seattle and posted a 41.6 coverage grade, according to PFF, and Kris Abrams-Draine allowed eight catches on 14 targets despite his late interception. We wrote last week that a corner trade makes more sense than a safety deal if Surtain’s ankle lingers, and the deadline is Nov. 10.
Will Sean Payton bench Bo Nix?
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No, and Payton said so directly. Asked Monday whether he was considering a quarterback change, Payton answered with one word, “No,” and said creating chunk plays starts with the coaches giving Nix those opportunities. Denver ranks 31st in total offense, according to the Denver Gazette.
“It’s not just Bo that feels (frustration),” Payton told the Gazette. “I feel our players feel that and we’ll improve. Fortunately, we’re sitting here 4-2 and we’ve got a chance to play better this upcoming weekend and we will.”
Payton also asked for better play from his offensive line, and the Week 6 grades back him up. Garett Bolles posted an 80.3 overall grade, according to PFF, while right tackle Mike McGlinchey (47.9) and left guard Ben Powers (47.2) were the two lowest-graded starters up front. We noted in our recap of a Locked On Broncos episode that Alex Forsyth and Alex Palczewski could push for snaps during the mini-bye.
How good are the Cardinals after beating the Rams?
Good enough to make this more than a layup. Arizona won 18-16 at SoFi Stadium when Chad Ryland hit a 43-yard field goal as time expired, his sixth of the day. It was the Cardinals’ first NFC West win since the 2024 season. “Deep down, I thought we were going to win the game when we had 51 seconds,” head coach Mike LaFleur said.
Arizona still went 0 for 5 on touchdowns in the red zone, and Jacoby Brissett finished 24 of 35 for 218 yards. The defense held the Rams to 286 total yards, but defensive tackle Walter Nolen III hurt his ankle.
Denver is a 5.5-point road favorite in Glendale and can’t afford a slip. Kansas City is 5-0 and Denver sits 1.5 games back, with Las Vegas at 3-3 after losing 33-30 to Buffalo. Payton admitted Thursday that the 4-2 start could easily look different, and a loss in Arizona would make the Chiefs rematch feel like a must-win.
