The Dallas Cowboys will be without running back Ronald Jones for the first two games of the 2023 season.
The sixth-year player out of USC, who signed a one-year deal with the Dallas this offseason, was suspended on Monday for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
“We, obviously, are aware of the situation, and we support him, and we’ll work through this,” head coach Mike McCarthy said during a press conference before Tuesday’s practice. “But as far as how the team is going to shake out, we have a lot of work to do, but we clearly understand the roles that go with the suspension.
Jones was expected to compete for the team’s No.2 running back job, left vacant after the offseason release of Ezekiel Elliott. While he can still participate in training camp and make the team (after serving the suspension), the situation will test the Cowboys’ remaining depth at the position.
Tony Pollard enters the season as the unquestioned starting running back and leader of the group, even as he recovers from a gruesome leg injury and plays on the franchise tag amid an uncertain future.
While Pollard has spent the last four years following Elliott’s lead, McCarthy says the back has embraced his new role.
“His leadership responsibility has increased, and the most important part of it is he’s doing it within his personality,” the head coach remarked. “I think Tony’s done an outstanding job…I think he’s done a great job as a leader [and] the veteran in the room.
The remaining running backs on the roster are relatively inexperienced. Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle are the next likely options, but they have just 32 games and 45 carries combined. Dallas also added undrafted free agent Hunter Luepke from North Dakota State, but he is more of a fullback.
Of course, the Cowboys could choose to add a veteran running back to the mix if they believe that is a better option, but McCarthy seems content with letting the competition shake itself out through training camp.
“To me, that’s part of the training camp environment,” he explained. “Obviously, he [Jones] is still with us, and it’s a young room. We knew that going in, and the development of all those guys so far has been impressive. I thought the running back group as a whole had a solid day yesterday, particularly [with] a lot of the new things we’re asking those guys to do.”
“Our protection outlook is different than it was the last three years, so there’s more on these guys’ plates. We’ll continue to develop the room.”
One running back McCarthy pointed out as an example of developing within the new protection schemes was rookie running back Deuce Vaughn. Vaughn is a smaller player known for his tremendous speed and play-making ability, but he held his own as a pass protector during Monday’s practice.
“He had a rep yesterday [that] he couldn’t have done any better,” McCarthy said of Vaughn. “Had a blitzer off the edge and was excellent with his technique and obviously used his leverage as an asset. It’ll definitely be part of his responsibilities, but I don’t think we want to put him back there all day in particular matchups and so forth, but it’s definitely part of playing the position.”
The offensive line can be a significant factor in the development of a running back and what he is able to accomplish. While Dallas has had one of the top offensive lines in football for most of the last decade, there are still things to work out on the unit as training camp progresses.
Tyron Smith and Terrence Steele are among the returning players on the offensive line that have played meaningful roles in the past, as is Tyler Smith, who is one of many on the roster who can play multiple positions.
“Obviously, we’ve got some moving parts and…we’re not full there,” McCarthy noted. “I do like the flexibility of some of the young guys that are playing. Tyron will do individual [drills] only, which means there will be more opportunities for the young guys during the team period.”
Young players will significantly impact the running back and offensive line positions as the Cowboys begin the season, and getting more full-speed repetitions should go a long way toward putting them in a position to succeed.
“To me, it’s a big part of why we’re here,” McCarthy explained. “We’ve got to find out about these guys, and no one needs the full-speed team reps more than pour young players.
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EXTRA POINTS
— Executive Vice President Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan that rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker could return to practice this week.
— Jerry Jones also appeared on the station and said a return for Ezekiel Elliott “has not been ruled out at all.”
— Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank believes he has a franchise quarterback in second-year Desmond Ridder.
— Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick is out for the season with a torn Achilles.
— New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett says Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton “broke the coaches’ code” with his comments about the coordinator’s brief tenure as Denver’s head coach.
— For the first time, the NFL will air an alternative Super Bowl broadcast on Nickelodeon in February.