Although running back Tony Pollard signed a $10.091 million (£7.86 million) franchise tender, the Dallas Cowboys have now lost their new addition due to suspension.
In order to assist Pollard, who was officially the backup last season because Ezekiel Elliott was thought of as the starter, Ronald Jones II joined the Cowboys during the offseason from the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs.
Since then, Elliott has been let go, with Pollard assuming the primary role and Jones joining to provide support. But because Jones, 25, broke the NFL’s PED policy, the Cowboys will be without him for the first two games of the 2023 campaign.
In a statement issued on Monday, the league confirmed that Jones will not be allowed to play against the New York Jets and New York Giants.
According to an NFL spokesperson, “RB Ronald Jones has been suspended for the first two regular season games for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.” “Jones is qualified to take part in every preseason workout and match.
“After the Cowboys’ Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets on Monday, September 18, he will be permitted to rejoin the team’s active roster.” Jones will be able to play in their Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals after missing their game against the Jets by one day.
After undergoing high-ankle surgery in January to treat an injury he suffered during the playoffs, Pollard is still recovering. They were eliminated after a close loss to the San Francisco 49ers, who were faced with the new RB1.
The Cowboys will be sweating because of Jones’ suspension because it’s unclear when Pollard will be back. In 2018, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Jones with the 38th overall pick.
Jones has had an interesting career thus far, and his two Super Bowl rings are a very fortunate performance. Under Tom Brady, the running back won his first championship before joining the Buccaneers in 2020.
One year prior to Brady’s retirement, he left the team and went all the way with Patrick Mahomes to the Chiefs. Despite only getting 17 carries in six games with the Chiefs the previous season and finishing with 70 yards and one touchdown, Jones then inked a one-year deal with the Cowboys in March.
While Jones narrowly missed reaching 1,000 rushing yards, his NFL career reached its zenith when the Buccaneers and Brady won the Super Bowl. After 192 carries, the running back finished the 2020 campaign with 978 yards and seven touchdowns. In the 31-9 victory over the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Jones also had 12 carries for 61 yards.
