Tony Cutillo
Everyone was filled with emotion and the happiness showed with each ice cube that entered the souvenir cups on the opening series of the preseason. Unfortunately, those smiles went to frowns in record pace. The sighs were heard around the Linc and the Eagles’ chants were turned down to a whisper. In a matter of seconds we went from talking about how Sidney Jones was a superior talent to his draft class to, “I hope it isn’t his Achilles.”
The play I am referring to is when Eagles linebacker Nate Gerry flew in and upended Jones trying to help make a tackle, seeming to catch Jones directly on his left foot. Jones landed hard on the field and stayed down, visibly favoring his one foot. It was at this point when the City of Brotherly Love collectively stopped what it was doing to immediately look for the latest updates on the young corner.
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— The Bitter Birds (@AdrianFedkiw) August 10, 2018
During the 2017 NFL Draft, the Eagles thought they were deep enough at the cornerback position, and deep enough to draft a second-rounder [that would’ve went in the first round] who would be red-shirted for most of the year with an Achilles injury recovery on tap. Obviously, after winning the Super Bowl it seems like their decision was pretty much justified. However, it will always be in the back of people’s minds whenever he is on the field. Here are a few tweets from the time he went down on one knee:
I’m praying Sidney Jones is ok
— Mike B. (@White_Mike93) August 10, 2018
Holding our breath over Sidney Jones getting ginged up.
— The Philadelphia Sports Table Podcast Show ? (@PhiladelphiaPST) August 10, 2018
Sidney Jones on the ground made me have a slight heart attack
— Robert Foulkrod ?? (@PhillyDude_RF) August 10, 2018
Omg Sidney Jones…
— ??? (@jared_rna_23) August 10, 2018
NOT SIDNEY JONES PLEASE GOD
— Pu$ha G ? (@Gus_steez) August 10, 2018
Sidney Jones almost caused a Philly twitter heart attack. Glad he appears to be okay
— Mike Shemesh (@MikeShemesh) August 10, 2018
It was later communicated that he suffered an ankle sprain and was ready to go back in the game. “I thought, ‘ankle sprain, damn,’” Jones said after the game, via Les Bowen. “So I got up and walked it off. Just an ankle sprain. I know I scared everybody. After the game, I texted my people. I’m good.”
Jones has opened up a lot of eyes in training camp and could make another cornerback expendable. However, if he proves to be a fragile player, the Eagles may want to rethink their strategy when it comes to their defensive backfield.
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