Getty Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.
After several months of speculation, the Dallas Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott have yet to reunite or permanently go their separate ways. A new development on the Cowboys’ side may force the issue for Dallas and their former star running back.
The Cowboys signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Ronald Jones this offseason, but he was suspended July 31 for use of illegal PEDs and will miss the first two games of the regular season. With their senior RB facing a suspension, Dallas owner Jerry Jones was asked about reuniting with Zeke. According to The Athletic’s Jon Machota, the door is open.
“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,'” Machota posted on X on August 1.
In the months since Elliott’s release, Jones and the Cowboys have consistently said they are open-minded about a reunion with the 28-year-old running back. But as the NFL regular season approaches, Dallas has yet to bring back Zeke and he has yet to sign with a different team.
Jones’ suspension does change things for Dallas, but whether that leads to the Cowboys signing Elliott is unclear.
Ezekiel Elliott Visits the New England Patriots
If the Cowboys do want to sign Elliott, they may not be alone. The New England Patriots met with Elliott but did not come to an agreement with him, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“Zeke has left the building,” Rapoport wrote on July 29. “But the two sides will stay in touch.”
Based on that report, Dallas still has competition for Elliott’s signature, should they decide to bring him back. Elliott leaving the Patriots without a deal keeps the door open for the Cowboys, but it also means that Zeke has a potential option if a reunion doesn’t work out.
Elliott could be past his prime, but he amassed 1,000+ yards from scrimmage in every season of his NFL career until 2022.
Cowboys RB Suspended
Less than two days after Elliott’s visit to New England, Jones was suspended by the NFL.
“The two-game suspension of Cowboys running back Ronald Jones is for violating the league policy on performance-enhancing substances,” ESPN’s Ed Werder posted on July 31. “He will miss games against the Giants and Jets and then be permitted to return to roster, assuming he makes the team.”
Jones had been signed in free agency to provide a veteran option in the Cowboys’ running back room, which is relatively young. Expected starter Tony Pollard, who is entering his fifth season, has the second most NFL experience back after Jones, who is entering his sixth year.
The former Tampa Bay RB spoke after the suspension, apologizing on social media and telling reporters that the substance was “a ‘heart stimulant’ that he’s been taking for quite some time,” according to Sports Illustrated.
“I love this game and would never cheat it,” Jones also posted on X. “I would never knowingly take a banned substance. I will continue to work with my team to investigate how this happened so that it never happens again.”