31 July 2023 , 22:26
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The Dallas Cowboys may have got running back Tony Pollard to sign his $10.091 million (£7.86m) franchise tender, but they've now lost their new signing to suspension.
Ronald Jones II joined the Cowboys from Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs this offseason to support Pollard, who was technically the backup last season as Ezekiel Elliott was considered the starter.
Elliott has since been released with Pollard officially taking on the leading role and Jones signed to back him up. But the Cowboys will be without Jones for the first two games of the 2023 season, as the 25-year-old has violated the NFL's PED policy.
The league released a statement on Monday, confirming that Jones will be ineligible to face the New York Giants and the New York Jets.
"RB Ronald Jones has been suspended the first two games of the regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances," a statement from an NFL spokesperson said. "Jones is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games.
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"He will be allowed to return to the Cowboys' active roster on Monday, Sept. 18, following the team’s Week 2 game against the New York Jets." Jones will miss their game against the Jets by a single day, but will then be able to return for their Week 3 match against the Arizona Cardinals.
Pollard is still making his way back from high-ankle surgery which occurred in January following an injury he sustained in the playoffs. The new RB1 was taken off against the San Francisco 49ers, and they were eliminated following a narrow defeat.
Jones' suspension will make the Cowboys sweat due to uncertainties over Pollard's exact return date. Jones was the 38th overall pick in 2018, being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jones has won two Super Bowls under two legendary quarterbacks in five years (2021 Getty Images)Jones has enjoyed a unique career so far, and a very fortunate one from a performance perspective as he's won two Super Bowl rings. The running back won his first championship with Tom Brady, who moved to the Buccaneers in 2020.
He left the franchise a year before Brady retired, joining the Chiefs and going all the way with Patrick Mahomes. Jones then signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys in March, despite having just 17 carries in six games last year with the Chiefs and finishing the season with 70 yards and one touchdown.
Jones' NFL career peaked when the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl with Brady, as he fell just short of 1,000 rushing yards. The running back finished the 2020 season with 978 yards on 192 carries and seven touchdowns. Jones also had 12 carries for 61 yards in the 31-9 Super Bowl victory over the Chiefs.