Cowboys RB adamant he's 'not cheating' after suspension

Dallas Cowboys running back Ronald Jones. Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys RB adamant he's 'not cheating the game' after PED suspension

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 8/1/23

Dallas Cowboys running back Ronald Jones was dealt a two-game PED suspension by the NFL on Monday for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.

On Tuesday, Jones addressed the suspension in hopes of clearing his name while rejecting the idea that he is "cheating the game of football."

“I just want to say it’s something I’ve been prescribed over the course of my career. It wasn’t any steroids. It wasn’t anything to enhance my game," Jones told David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

According to Moore, Jones stated that his family has a history of heart disease.

Jones said it was a heart stimulant. Said family has a history of heart disease. https://t.co/bFxFgRiCKS
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) August 1, 2023

Jones, 25, joined the Cowboys this offseason after a tumultuous 2022 campaign with the Kansas City Chiefs where he totaled just 17 carries. His best season as a pro came in 2020 when he amassed 1,143 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns, helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the Super Bowl.

Jones had a legitimate opportunity in Dallas to lock down the No. 2 spot behind starter Tony Pollard, who is working his way back from high-ankle surgery in January. Yet after his suspension, his chances of making the team's 53-man roster are far more up in the air.

Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis and sixth-round rookie Deuce Vaughn will compete for the primary backup role behind Pollard on opening day. Although, Jones' suspension could open the door for a reunion with former Pro Bowler Ezekiel Elliott, who remains on the market after the Cowboys opted to release him back in March.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on @1053thefan said "We're reading the tea leaves" when asked about possibility of re-signing Ezekiel Elliott after Ronald Jones' suspension. Jones on Elliott: "He's not ruled out at all."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 1, 2023