Ronald Jones II has been hit with a suspension before even playing a snap for the Dallas Cowboys, meaning he will miss the opening two games of the 2023 season.
The NFL confirmed on Monday that Jones will be suspended without pay for games against the New York Giants and the New York Jets, for violating their policy on performance-enhancing substances. Jones can remain with the team in the offseason but will then have to wait until Week 3 to return once the season starts.
Jones has defended himself following the ruling, and even tried to appeal the decision as he claimed his failed test was for heart medicine that he has been prescribed since he entered the NFL. Jones admitted that he was responsible for what goes in his body, but called for the NFL to understand.
"We tried to appeal. I asked for a re-test, a sample of my blood, my health concerns and they didn't really look at it," Jones said after the ruling was made. "I think there needs to be more protection for the players because if you have health issues, we're human beings outside of football and we have real-life issues too. My family suffers from heart disease."
Jones has since posted another statement, further wanting to get his side of the story out there after multiple accusations that he's on steroids. "I just want to clear my name," said Jones.
"Everybody wants to say I'm on steroids and, clearly, I'm not. I'm one of the skinniest dudes on the team and in the league. It's something I've been prescribed over the course of my career, It wasn't any steroid or anything to enhance my game.
"It was medicine prescribed by a doctor that I wasn't aware of. The tests came back and I'm responsible for what I put in my body. People are gonna say what they want, but I've never cheated in the game of football. I've played this game for free for years and years, so to be here now and have them say that about me — it hurts but I'm responsible for my medicine and what I was taking.
Jones won a Super Bowl with Tom Brady before winning another with Patrick Mahomes (2021 Getty Images) "Just gotta make sure it's not gonna happen again. I'm still gonna be out here working, through preseason and training camp. Just put my best foot forward and try to move on from this."
It's a blow for the Cowboys as they signed Jones to replace running back Ezekiel Elliott, with Tony Pollard becoming the new franchise running back. Pollard signed his one-year franchise tender before the deadline, and returned just in time for Cowboys practice camp after having surgery on his ankle.
The Cowboys will now have to rely on Pollard even more in the first two weeks, with tough match-ups against the New York teams first-up. Pollard will face fellow running back Saquon Barkley in Week 1, another player who didn't earn a long-term contract and had to sign their franchise tender.
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