Broncos Under Scrutiny: Jonathon Cooper Fined Amid Surge in 2024 Team Penalties

Denver Broncos edge rusher Jonathon Cooper received unwelcome news during the team’s bye week. Despite celebrating a recent four-year contract extension, Cooper was hit with a $12,668 fine for making contact to the head and neck area of Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston. The incident occurred during Denver’s 41-32 victory over Cleveland but did not result in an on-field penalty at the time.

Cooper’s fine adds to a growing list of disciplinary actions against Broncos players this season. Remarkably, he is the 12th different player to be fined, bringing the team’s total to 14 fines in 2024. Eight of these infractions came within the first five weeks of the season, signaling a pattern of aggressive play leading to league penalties.

Among the notable fines earlier in the year, edge rusher Nik Bonitto was fined $8,791 for roughing the passer in Week 1, while safety Brandon Jones incurred an $11,255 fine for a face-mask penalty in the same game. The accumulation of fines highlights the fine line between physicality and rule violations for Denver’s defense.