Cowboys Rumors: Ronald Jones II Agrees to Contract After Ezekiel Elliott Release

The Dallas Cowboys agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent running back Ronald Jones II on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

Jones carried the ball 17 times for 70 yards and one touchdown in six games with the Kansas City Chiefs last season. Before that, he had 2,174 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 25-year-old's arrival in Dallas comes as the Cowboys are rearranging their backfield following the release of longtime leader Ezekiel Elliott.

The team applied the franchise tag to Tony Pollard before moving on from Elliott. Rico Dowdle is returning after hammering out an agreement as well.

Dallas might be prepared to make Pollard the unquestioned feature back. The 25-year-old is averaging 5.1 yards per carry for his career and posted personal bests in rushing yards (1,007) and touchdowns (nine) in 2022 en route to his first Pro Bowl.

Pollard also saw his season end because of a fractured left fibula and high ankle sprain in the NFC Divisional Round, though ESPN's Todd Archer reported at the time he's expected to be ready in time for training camp.

In addition, head coach Mike McCarthy has made it clear he wants to emphasize the running game.

With those two factors in mind, many have wondered whether the Cowboys will seek to replicate the thunder-and-lightning combo they had with Elliott and Pollard. They had 231 and 193 carries, respectively, and combined to average 121.3 yards per game on the ground.

You wouldn't expect Jones to fill that kind of role. His running style is a reasonable facsimile of Elliott's, but he doesn't have anything close to the same kind of track record.

If nothing else, the 2018 second-round pick provides good cover for Pollard, and his presence doesn't preclude the Cowboys from targeting another running back in the 2023 NFL draft.