Oakland Raiders sign Jonathan Cooper, add competition at left guard
The Oakland Raiders signed guard Jonathan Cooper, who could potentially start at left guard for Weeks 1 and 2 of the upcoming season.
The Oakland Raiders added competition to a training camp battle at left guard, signing Jonathan Cooper, per ESPN’s Field Yates. Projected starting left guard Richie Incognito will serve a two-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from an incident last August at a funeral home, which resulted in his arrest for disorderly conduct.
Although Incognito can participate at training camp, his suspension opens an opportunity for a new starter on the interior for the first two contests of the upcoming season.
Initially, Denzelle Good seemed like the unquestioned fill-in starter for Incognito, but Cooper’s arrival gives him some competition. Head coach Jon Gruden likes to push guys who haven’t cemented their spots on the depth chart, so we shouldn’t be surprised to see a heated battle at left guard.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Cooper with the seventh overall pick in 2013, but he broke his fibula and missed his entire rookie season — subsequent knee and toe injuries hurt his chance at landing a prominent role for the 2014 campaign.
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In 2015, Cooper started nine contests at right guard, logging 634 snaps; he allowed 22 pressures, which included just one sack, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The Cardinals opted to trade him to the New England Patriots during the 2016 offseason in a deal involving pass-rusher Chandler Jones. The club waived him during the regular season.
In 2017, Cooper had a short stint with the Cleveland Browns, starting in three out of five games at right guard. He earned a steady first-unit role at left guard with the Dallas Cowboys in the following term, appearing in 13 contests. He allowed 20 pressures, which included two sacks that year, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
After a brief stint with the Washington Redskins last year, starting four games, Cooper could fill a void for the Raiders. He’s bounced around the league but started at most of his destinations. The 29-year old offers versatility with experience on both sides of the line.
The Raiders signed a former first-round pick with 31 career starts at guard. Instead of handing the temporary starting role to Good, we’ll see two veterans duke it out for a short starting audition.
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Who knows, perhaps one or both stick to the roster for the duration of the regular season in reserve roles. In Cooper’s case, he’s shown solid pass-blocking ability, giving up seven sacks in 46 games.