Will Ronald Jones secure a roster spot with the Dallas Cowboys after being suspended for PED?
Though the Cowboys made a series of changes concerning running backs, they surely weren’t one to be suspended, and less so for the reason that he has.
In the wake of the ongoing standoff with Zack Martin, the franchise now has another headache to deal with in that, one of their running backs now faces suspension and for reasons that are less than ideal to say the least.
Cowboys’ Ronald Jones suspended for 2 games for PED
When the 2023-24 NFL season kicks off, will be without at least one member of their new backfield. According to an NFL announcement on Monday, the team will play the first two games of the campaign without backup running back Ronald Jones, who has been handed a two-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy (PED). Jones will, however, still be permitted to practice and play in preseason games. In case you’re wondering, Dallas’ first two games are against the New York Giants and New York Jets, meaning Jones will be up for his first game in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals.
A Look at Ronald Jones
Having only arrived this very offseason, this is understandably not a good start to life in Dallas for Jones. At any rate, the 25-year-old is expected to compete with Malik Davis and Deuce Vaughn, both of whom sit behind Tony Pollard, the man we assume will be the Cowboys’ starter after four years worth of playing backup to Ezekiel Elliot.
As for what Jones was doing and with who prior to his arrival in the lone star state, he spent the 2022 season with the Kansas City Chiefs, rushing 17 times for 70 yards and a touchdown while also catching one pass for 22 yards. A second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018, Jones spent the first four years of his career in Tampa, eventually winning a Super Bowl with the Bucs in 2021. Should he manage to secure a spot on the Cowboys’ roster he will have his work cut out for him. As mentioned before Pollard appears to be the man of the moment, while Davis and Vaughn were brought in as a undrafted free agent and sixth-round pick respectively. At this point it remains unclear as to what his chances are, but it may not even be about him, in that the Cowboys may yet prefer to acquire a more experienced player to work behind Pollard. Watch this space.