Ronald Jones gets two games suspension after violating PED policy

Texas Stadium Dallas Cowboys World Champions Mural – CC BY-SA

According to the NFL’s announcement on Monday, the Dallas Cowboys’ Ronald Jones is suspended for the first two games of the regular season due to violating the Performance Enhancing Drug (PED) policy.

The first games for the Cowboys will be against New York Giants and New York Jets. The 25-year-old will still be able to practice and play in the preseason games. After the suspension, Jones will be eligible to face the Arizona Cardinals in the Week 3 game.

“Jones is eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games. He will be allowed to return to the Cowboys’ active roster on Monday, Sept. 18, following the team’s Week 2 game vs. the New York Jets,” wrote the NFL in its official statement.

PED policy prohibits using steroids, stimulants and growth hormones among players, coaches, athletic trainers and agents. The NHL considers this substance a threat to the game’s fairness and integrity.

Jones signed a contract with the Cowboys earlier this offseason. As part of the team’s strategy, he is expected to compete with fellow running backs Malik Davis and Deuce Vaughn for playing time.

Additionally, Tony Pollard has taken over as the Cowboys’ starting running back after playing a secondary role to Ezekiel Elliott for the past four years.

Jones’ previous seasons

Jones began his professional career as a second-round pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2018 NFL Draft.

In 2020, Jones had 978 rushing yards and 1,143 total yards. His ability to contribute both as a rusher and a receiver made him a valuable asset to the Buccaneers’ offense.

The American contributed to the Bucs’ Super Bowl victory a few years ago. However, due to competition with Leonard Fournette, he fell behind on the depth chart.

Jones encountered some struggles the following season in 2021. He accumulated only 428 rushing yards, a decline from his stellar performance the year before.

In the 2022 season, Jones was part of the Kansas City Chiefs, where he carried the ball 17 times for 70 yards, scored a touchdown, and caught one pass for 22 yards.