Dallas Cowboys sign RB Ronald Jones: Former Buccaneers USC star signs a 1-year contract following Ezekiel Elliott’s cut.
The Dallas Cowboys signed running back Ronald Jones to a one-year contract on Tuesday after visiting the team on Monday.
The former University of Southern California star spent last season with the Kansas City Chiefs after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jones, 25, helps fill the void left by the release of Ezekiel Elliott last week.
Tony Pollard, the starting running back who won the franchise title, broke his foot in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC divisional round.
Jones was inactive for Kansas City’s first 10 games of the 2022 season.
He caught just 17 balls for 70 yards (4.
1 average) and one touchdown in six games.
He appeared in only one of the team’s three playoff games and had one carry in the AFC Championship Game victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, which clinched Kansas City’s second Super Bowl victory in four seasons.
Although Jones didn’t get to play much, he was very grateful for the opportunity leading up to the game.
“I wouldn’t trade it for the world to have the opportunity to win two Super Bowl rings in the first five years of my NFL career,” Jones said.
The Fort Stewart, Georgia, native played in 55 games (25 starts) for the Buccaneers from 2018 to 2021.
After appearing in nine games in 2018, Jones was in his second season in the NFL.
He started all 16 games for the team, nine of them, and had 172 carries for 724 yards (4.
2 average) and six touchdowns.
He was also a threat in the receiving game, catching 31 passes for 309 yards (10.
0 yards average).
Jones played a key role on the Buccaneers team that won the Super Bowl in 2020, forming a solid one-two punch with Leonard Fournette.
In 14 games (13 starts), he caught 192 balls for 978 yards (5.
1 yards average) and seven touchdowns.
He added 28 receptions for 165 yards (5.
9 average) and one touchdown.
In 2021, he played in all 16 games, including three starting games, but suffered from a decline in performance.
Jones totaled 101 hits, his lowest since his rookie season.
He gained 428 yards at 4.
2 yards per carry while scoring four touchdowns.
He signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs last March.
“They talked to coach Andy Reid and coach Eric Bieniemy, and it was a great fit,” Jones said at the time of signing with Kansas City.
“I think when you look at their running back movement, it’s a perfect reflection of my skill set.
They’re excited to see that.
Prior to his NFL career, Jones played at USC.
He appeared in 40 games in three seasons with the Trojans, recording 591 receiving catches for 3,619 yards (6.
1 yards average) and 39 touchdowns.
He also had 32 receptions for 302 yards (9.
4 average) and three scores.
The Buccaneers selected him with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
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Jones, a native of McKinney (Texas) North, was a former four-star player in the 2015 class, but he unfortunately missed out on five-star status.
He was the top-ranked running back at No.
42 overall.
He was also the No.
8 player in the Lone Star State.
