Sidney Jones Remains Confident

Orlando Scandrick was released earlier this week and Avonte Maddox remains sidelined with a concussion and neck injury. That leaves the Eagles’ options limited at slot cornerback as they head into Buffalo to meet the 5-1 Bills on Sunday (1 pm/FOX).

The choice is supposed to be Sidney Jones. The former second-round pick who has struggled with injuries since being drafted 43 overall in 2017 is healthy. Now Jones’ struggles are completely different.

It’s Jones’ game that isn’t healthy.

He was available to play last Sunday night in Dallas but never made it off the bench. Craig James, who was on the practice squad earlier this season, even made it onto the field for four snaps while Scandrick played most of the way at slot corner.

The perception is that Jones’ confidence is flagging right now.

Head coach Doug Pederson doesn’t think that’s the case, though he was only speculating when he said: “After watching him in practice last week, coming back from injury, he's battled injuries pretty much his whole career here. My observation of him, and this is just mine, is that he's in a good place and he's ready to get back out there and perform.”

Jones told NBC Sports Philly’s Dave Zangaro that his confidence is just fine.

“I know that’s a whole big thing going on,” Jones told Zangaro. “It’s been said in the media here or there or whatever. It is what it is. It’s out there, but I know what I got at the end of the day. It’s all about me and where my focus is. Nothing else really matters. If I believe in myself, that’s all that matters.”

Jones then added: “I’m telling you I got it.”

It remains to be seen whether or not defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz believes that or not.

There are other options to play in the slot, including James and Malcolm Jenkins.

“Well, we'll see where we get to Sunday,” said Schwartz. “You guys know I don't like to be pigeonholed into things or whatever. Obviously, Malcolm can play that position. Malcolm layers a little bit different because of all the different roles he plays.

“And then at some time we'll trend to get Avonte and Cre'Von (LeBlanc, who is eligible to come off IR after Sunday’s game) back, too. So we have a lot of different players who can play in that position. Sid started last year at the beginning in that position and was able to hold that position. So we have confidence that whoever we put in there will be able to accomplish that role.”

Fortunately for the Eagles, they are very familiar with Buffalo’s slot receiver. It’s old friend Cole Beasley, who played seven years with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Bills in the offseason.

In 13 career games against the Eagles, Beasley has 45 catches for 449 yards (9.8 yards per catch) with two touchdowns. Not exactly eye-popping numbers, but he did come out on the winning side of the matchup with eight wins in those 13 games.

This year, Beasley is averaging five catches per game for 9.4 yards per catch average.

Schwartz has elected to use Jenkins on Beasley in the past. Jenkins has been more effective in the slot against players who aren’t known for speed, receivers he can get physical with off the line of scrimmage.

As a second-round pick, the job is supposed to belong to Jones, but he has yet to prove he can handle it. Now would be as good a time as any for him to start.