The stop-start-stop-again NFL career of cornerback Sidney Jones is about to start again.
He said on Friday that he's on track to play Monday against Washington after missing Sunday's game – and three of the last four games in total – because of a hamstring injury. Jones says he is 100 percent healed and ready to go.
That's good news for a secondary that has been shredded with injuries this season. Jones and Rasul Douglas, both of whom were full participants in practice, could start on the outside at cornerback on Monday night, with Cre'Von LeBlanc at nickel. That's at least one possibility as the Eagles have some options with both Jones and Douglas, who has battled knee and ankle injuries, expected to play.
"It's huge, man, it's huge," Jones said. "It's been a struggle, obviously trying to come back that last game (in New Orleans) and then I went down again. Same injury. This week, I'm back. Ready."
A second-round draft pick in 2017 after suffering a torn Achilles tendon prior to the NFL Draft that spring, Jones spent his rookie season rehabbing the injury and only played in the regular-season finale against Dallas. This season, Jones earned the starting nickel cornerback spot and started the opening six games before suffering a hamstring injury in the win at the Giants. Jones then missed three games, only to return in New Orleans and get hurt again.
After missing last week's win over the Giants, Jones is back and, hopefully, for good.
"It's real frustrating," Jones said. "Obviously, I sat out last year. That was kind of painful, watching my guys. It turned out well last year. This year, I started steady and obviously had a setback, but that's life. It happens. I'm just moving forward and I just have to bounce back."
Jones hopes he can get on the field and stay there and find out where he is as a player in the NFL. The Eagles would love to know as well after investing a second-round pick in a player who might after gone in the top 15-20 players had he not suffered the injury working out at his alma mater, the University of Washington, in March before April's draft.
That's all in the past now. Jones is looking forward, hopeful that some clear skies are ahead.
"I just want to be out there helping the team win," he said. "It's frustrating when you get hurt. You really just want to get healthy and stay healthy. Hopefully, that's going to be the case."
