Tag: jonathon cooper

‘What streak?’ Broncos OLB Jonathon Cooper ecstatic after beating Chiefs

“What streak? What streak are we talking about? It’s over now. It’s a one-game winning streak for us, that’s what we’re talking about.”

It’s finally over.

After 16 straight defeats, the Denver Broncos finally snapped their losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday with a 24-9 win.

“I feel great,” Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper said after the upset victory. “Finally getting over this hump, finally changing this thing around. That’s how we finish. That’s a great team win and over a good team too. I’m really happy right now. I’m ecstatic.”

That’s, right, Jonathon, the losing streak has ended!

“What streak? What streak are we talking about? It’s over now. It’s a one-game winning streak for us, that’s what we’re talking about.”

Cooper totaled two quarterback hits, a half-sack and one fumble recovery on Sunday. He’ll now go into the bye week with extra confidence after upsetting KC in Week 8.

“Obviously, we knew that they’re a great team,” Cooper said of Sunday’s game. “They’ve been winning these games over the last couple years. We knew if we needed to change this season around we needed to get after them. Winning at home is a huge part of it, too. We just wanted to come out with that energy and that swag to us. I feel like we did that.”

They certainly did.

After their bye, the Broncos will go on the road to face the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 10.

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Ex-Broncos pass rusher Frank Clark signing with Seahawks

After being cut by the Broncos, Frank Clark is returning to the Seahawks.

Ex-Denver Broncos pass rusher Frank Clark is now expected to sign with the Seattle Seahawks, according to multiple reports.

Clark was a Bronco for about six weeks before Denver released him. Clark came to Denver on a one-year, $5.45 million contract from the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in the hopes of boosting a flagging pass rush.

Clark only appeared in two games for Denver, where he recorded only two tackles.

The Broncos have not had a lot of success with free agent pass rushers the past few years, signing Clark and ex-Cowboy Randy Gregory. Gregory was benched and then traded to the San Francisco 49ers earlier this month.

Clark looks to get back into the playoff picture with the Seahawks, who are now 4-2.

In the meantime, Denver will turn to young players such as Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning and Jonathan Cooper to kickstart a Vance Joseph-led pass rush.

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Russell Wilson leads Broncos to 31-28 comeback win over Bears

The Broncos trailed the Bears 28-7 in the third quarter and then came back to win 31-28! What a performance from Russell Wilson!

After trailing the Chicago Bears 28-7 in the third quarter, Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson led a second-half comeback to secure the team’s first victory of the 2023 NFL season with a 31-28 win.

Denver started the game on defense with two changes to the starting lineup — Nik Bonitto started at outside linebacker in the place of Randy Gregory and Ja’Quan McMillian started in the place of Essang Bassey at slot cornerback.

Bonitto’s early sack helped the Broncos force the Bears into a 3-and-out on their opening drive and Chicago chose not to go for it on 4th-and-2 near midfield, opting to punt to Denver instead.

The Broncos then went on an 11-play, 84-yard drive that ended with quarterback Russell Wilson connecting on a screen pass to running back Jaleel McLaughlin for an 18-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.

Chicago matched that score when Justin Fields connected with D. J. Moore on a 29-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to make it 7-7. On the ensuing kickoff, Denver rookie receiver Marvin Mims muffed the ball and recovered his own fumble before being tackled at the 4-yard line.

Pinned deep in their own territory, the Broncos were unable to pick up a first down and ended up punting back to the Bears. Chicago then went 44 yards and Fields threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet to make it 14-7.

Following another Denver punt, Fields led an 85-yard drive and threw another touchdown pass to Kmet to extend the lead to 21-7. At that point in the second quarter, Fields was 12-of-12 passing for 185 yards with three touchdowns.

In the second half, Fields threw a forth touchdown pass — a two-yard toss to running back Khalil Herbert — to make it 28-7. The Broncos finally scored again late in the third quarter when Wilson threw a four-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Johnson to make it 28-14.

After a Bears punt, Wilson later threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton to cut the deficit to 28-21 midway through the fourth quarter.

On Chicago’s next drive, Bonitto strip-sacked Fields and fellow pass rusher Jonathon Cooper recovered the fumble and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to tie the game 28-28. The Bears then went 82 yards and got down to Denver’s 18-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.

Wilson then led a five-play, 48-yard drive that ended with a 51-yard Wil Lutz field goal to give the Broncos a 31-28 lead with under two minutes remaining. Chicago’s own comeback attempt fell short after Fields was intercepted by safety Kareem Jackson to seal the game.

On the injury front, Broncos running back Javonte Williams left the game in the first half with a hip injury and he did not return.

Up next for Denver is a home game against the New York Jets in Week 5.

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WATCH: Jonathon Cooper scores after Nik Bonitto strip-sack

Finally, a big play from the Broncos’ defense! Nik Bonitto with the strip-sack and Jonathon Cooper with the TD return to tie the game!

After a terrible first three quarters against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, the Denver Broncos’ defense made a big play in the fourth quarter to tie the game.

Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto strip-sacked Bears quarterback Justin Fields and fellow pass rusher Jonathon Cooper recovered the ball and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.

Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter page:

At the time of publication, Denver and Chicago are tied 28-28 with 6:55 remaining in the game.

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5 Broncos players to watch vs. Bears

Here are the Broncos players we’ll be keeping an eye on this Sunday.

The first blunder bowl of 2023 is upon us, and it features none other than the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos in a matchup that will determine who’s season is truly over for the loser and who’s season is just probably over for the winner. Both Chicago and Denver are sporting winless records despite each having high hopes entering the season.

The Bears were set to take the next step in their rebuild led by Justin Fields, but have been plagued by no offensive rhythm and a soft defense. The Broncos, meanwhile, traded for head coach Sean Payton to help clean up last year’s mess and get the most out of Russell Wilson, but their problems have been on defense after they were gashed the last two weeks, surrendering 105 points in total.

Despite their record and embarrassing performances as of late, the Broncos still have players that could be a nuisance for the Bears to match up against. Here are five players from Denver we’ll be watching on Sunday.

 

Jonathon Cooper on Broncos’ close losses: ‘We have to break this cycle’

The Broncos lost nine one-score games in 2022 and then opened the 2023 season with a one-point loss.

Last year, nine of the Denver Broncos’ 12 losses were by one score, including a pair of one-point defeats.

That unfortunate trend of losing close games seems to have carried over into 2023, as the Broncos fell to the Las Vegas Raiders 17-16 in Week 1. After the game, pass rusher Jonathon Cooper spoke about the team struggling to close out tight games.

“That is the most frustrating part I feel like,” Cooper said. “It’s frustrating, obviously this has happened before. We have seen this before. We have to break this cycle. We have to break this cycle where we play well throughout the whole entire game and then it gets down to the nitty-gritty somehow [and] we don’t finish. We have to learn how to finish these games. That’s it.”

On Sunday, Denver’s defense failed to get the ball back and allowed the Raiders to run out the clock to secure a one-point victory. There were mistakes by every unit on Sunday, though, adding up to a narrow defeat.

“We need to learn how to win,” Cooper said. “We need to learn how to finish. It takes going through the film and seeing where we can be better all around, defense, offense, special teams, you know those little things.

“Those little things coach always talks about. I feel like we just need to improve, the little penalties, not getting off on third down, all that stuff. We got to go back in the lab and just see how we can be better.”

The Broncos will have another opportunity to break the cycle when they host the Washington Commanders in Week 2.

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Broncos need more from their pass rush in Week 2

The Broncos had no sacks and no quarterback hits in Week 1. Denver’s pass rushers have generate more pressure in Week 2.

The Denver Broncos will need more production from their pass against the Washington Commanders this week than they got against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.

That shouldn’t be hard to accomplish given that the team’s pass rush was just about non-existent last week. Broncos outside linebackers Randy Gregory, Jonathon Cooper, Frank Clark and Nik Bonitto combined to total just two “pressures” and zero quarterback hits against the Raiders.

After a 17-16 loss, Denver players attributed the lack of pressure in part to the quick release of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. 

“I know we did not have any sacks today, but I think going into the game if you look at ‘Jimmy G,’ I mean it is very well known to get the ball out quick,” defensive end Zach Allen said.

“He’s very smart, like I said earlier in the week, he knows where the ball is going before the ball is even snapped. So obviously you just can’t get frustrated. I think there was some good wins out there but obviously we can improve in every aspect.”

Broncos edge defender Randy Gregory noted that Denver was focused on stopping the run, which they did relatively well. Las Vegas running back Josh Jacobs was limited to 48 yards on 19 carries, averaging just 2.5 yards per rush.

“I do not feel like [Garoppolo] dropped back much early on,” Gregory said. “[They] did a good job of running the ball, taking shots when they needed to and getting the play action when they needed to. I know for me that probably messed me up a little bit.

“As a pass rusher, you would like to get a little bit more opportunities for one-on-one rushes and to see him drop back more. I think we had a good game plan to stop the run. We just need to cut down on some of the explosive plays and make plays when we need to.”

The Broncos will likely be helped by the eventual return of outside linebacker Baron Browning, who is eligible to be activated from the reserve/physically unable to perform list in Week 5. In the meantime, Gregory, Cooper, Clark and Bonitto have to create more pressure, even when the game flow makes it difficult.

Denver should have an easier time generating pressure when the team faces the Washington Commanders and second-year QB Sam Howell in Week 2. Howell was sacked six times in Washington’s season opener.

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Vance Joseph impressed with Broncos’ OLB depth

“It’s the best room I’ve had from one to six in a very long time,” Broncos DC Vance Joseph said of the team’s outside linebacker depth.

The Denver Broncos plan to get after the quarterback with waves of pass rushers this season. With a deep outside linebacker depth chart, the Broncos can rotate edge defenders to keep them fresh throughout a game.

Randy Gregory and (when healthy) Baron Browning are the team’s two starters and there’s promising depth behind them. Browning is currently out injured so the team signed Frank Clark to have a veteran fallback option.

Third-year outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper has also impressed this summer, and he has started over Clark in preseason. The Broncos also have second-year pass rusher Nik Bonitto, the team’s second-round draft pick in 2022.

Behind those top five OLBs, Denver also has special teams ace Aaron Patrick and a trio of young pass rushers.

“It’s the best room I’ve had from one to six in a very long time,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Jospeh said on Aug. 8. “Having a bunch of rushers with different traits has been fun to watch. Having a plan for each guys to get enough reps to be effective during the game is going to be important for me.

“Having Randy, Frank, ‘Coop’ and Bonitto and then when Baron comes back, that’s a really good room. We’ve got two young guys breaking glass also. It’s a good room.”

Denver totaled 36 sacks last season, which ranked ninth-worst in the NFL. Individually, Dre’Mont Jones (who is no longer with the club) led the team with 6.5. Next up was Bradley Chubb (5.5), who is also no longer with the team. The Broncos will need more from their pass rushers in 2023, and Cooper believes the unit is trending in the right direction.

“I think we progressed a lot,” Cooper said on Aug. 19. “Obviously, getting some new guys in here and then developing the young guys who have been here. We got to do better in the pass rush, obviously. That’s been the emphasis. I think last year we had 30-some sacks.

“Coach [Sean Payton] talks about it all the time. That’s not the standard. That’s not what we’re settling for at all. I feel like that was just a little glimpse of our pass rush right now and we’re only going to get better week by week.”

Denver will aim to top their 36-sack total from a year ago. Individually, getting multiple players above 6.5 sacks would help the Broncos approach 40-plus sacks. Denver’s pass rushers will make their 2023 debut when the team hosts the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.

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Broncos DE Zach Allen dubbed a ‘phenomenal player’

“Zach [Allen] is a phenomenal player,” Broncos OLB Jonathon Cooper said of his new teammate.

After a quiet Bronco debut in Denver’s preseason opener two weeks ago, new defensive lineman Zach Allen made a much bigger impact against the 49ers in Week 2 of preseason.

Allen played 26 snaps against the 49ers and he made them count, totaling three tackles and one sack. Allen also helped teammates other teammates like pass rusher Jonathon Cooper get free by drawing attention up front.

“He brings a lot,” Copper said of Allen after the game in San Francisco. “Obviously, Zach is a phenomenal player. I feel like he’s getting better week-to-week and I feel like adding someone like him on a d-line has been a great help. The pressure that he can bring in the inside just makes it easier for us on the edge.”

After totaling 34 quarterback hits and 9.5 sacks over the last two seasons (28 games) in Arizona, Allen signed a three-year, $45.75 million contract with the Broncos. So far, he appears capable of living up to that contract.

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Jonathon Cooper will be an important piece for Broncos in 2023

“He’s important to what we’re doing,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper.

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It’s hard to assess certain positions — such as offensive linemen and defensive linemen — during the spring when there’s no contact at NFL practices.

For the Denver Broncos, outside linebackers who line up the edge are hard to evaluate early in the offseason as well. For new head coach Sean Payton, he’s not quite ready to give a full evaluation of pass rusher Jonathon Cooper, but he does expect the edge defender to have an important role in 2023.

“It’s difficult because those are the groups that aren’t in pads, but you certainly see the get off, the explosion and the experience,” Payton said on June 14 when asked about his impressions of Cooper this spring.

“I think when we get into training camp, you then get a better feel. I’ll get a better feel for a lot of these players that I still don’t know well. I know them now and I know their names, but I’ve just seen it so many times when the pads come on, and you get a completely different perspective from a certain running back or a certain someone who stands out. It becomes a little clearer, but he’s important to what we’re doing.”

Cooper (6-4, 257 pounds) was drafted by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Ohio State. Initially expected to play primarily on special teams, Cooper ended up starting five games in his rookie season as an injury fill-in. Cooper stepped up again last year as a nine-game fill-in starter.

Following the arrival of Frank Clark, Cooper could be demoted on the depth chart from third-string pass rusher to fourth-string OLB behind Randy Gregory, Baron Browning and Clark. Denver plans to utilize waves of pass rush rotations this fall, though, so there will be plenty of snaps for Cooper.

After totaling 14 quarterback hits and 4.5 sacks through his first two seasons (30 games) in the NFL, Cooper will aim to impress Payton when the pads come on this summer. Even if he doesn’t win a regular starting role, Cooper could prove to be a key rotational pass rusher under Payton this season.

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