Program not responding only when use USB-to-TTL cable

I'm trying to use an FTDI cable to connect an Elegoo Uno R3 (Chinese knockoff) to my computer. The code I'm running will upload with the USB cable but when I use the FTDI cable I receive the error:
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding.

My connections are 5v, gnd, tx, rx
The Uno board is selected: arduino/genuino uno
The usbserial port is selected: /dev/cu.usbserial-FTAITX1
**I make sure to press reset before uploading the sketch and I still receive this error

This setup previously worked perfectly. After a couple weeks I went back to working on the Uno and now I'm receiving this error.

**Side note: When I plug the FTDI cable into an Arduino Mega 2560 I receive the error:
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout

Maybe my settings are off?

My connections are 5v, gnd, tx, rx

The reset signal is missing (DTR->RESET). It is needed to start the bootloader to listen for programming instructions.