5 players who Eagles need to be great in 2019

3. Sidney Jones

The Eagles secondary was decimated by injury in 2018, but Sidney Jones being limited to just nine games might have been the most impactful absence. Needless to say, the Eagles coaching staff hope they can get their talented cornerback healthy in 2019.

The organization hopes that the mysterious hamstring issues that plagued Jones last year are behind him. It will be impossible to know whether or not that’s truly the case until he gets onto the field, but the full offseason of rest and recovery should really have benefited the third-year pro.

This year Philadelphia needs Jones to put it all together. At his best, he’s got the potential to be one of the true shutdown cornerbacks in the league. He’s got quality size at 6-feet tall and his long arms really allow him to bother opposing receivers. Jones still has work to do on his technique, but he’s got more than enough talent to be a Pro Bowler at his position.

The Eagles need for his talent to be the story of their defense this season. If he can stay healthy for a full campaign and play well, it will allow guys like Ronald Darby and Avonte Maddox to slot into their proper places in the secondary’s pecking order. When Jones isn’t playing his best, too much pressure is placed on his teammates.

There’s a lot of pressure riding on Jones to have a big season. If he plays well, the Eagles entire defense can take a big step forward. If he struggles as he did last season, his team’s offense better put up a lot of points.