NFL: Philadelphia Eagles-Training Camp

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Sidney Jones (22) catches a ball during training camp at NovaCare Training Complex.

(Bill Streicher | USA TODAY)

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles have been very discrete about their plans for rookie cornerback Sidney Jones this season, not ruling out that he might play but also insisting they won't rush him back from the torn Achilles he suffered back in March.

This, however, might be a hint they plan on seeing him on the field this season.

Speaking to Comcast SportsNet prior to the Eagles' win over the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field, executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman had this to say about the impact the trade for Ronald Darby will have on Jones.

"Sidney has a great skillset too, and we got to do right by him and make sure that he is a long term building block for the Philadelphia Eagles. Not just for this moment in time," Roseman said. "And I think that is the other thing that adds to this trade, is we don't have that pressure in our stomach to kind of rush him back maybe a week too soon, two weeks too soon."

Notice Roseman talked about Jones' return in terms of weeks. Not next year, not next season, but weeks.

Perhaps Roseman didn't mean anything by it, but it could have been a slip of the tongue that hints at the Eagles planning on having Jones play at some point this season, and now with Darby in the fold, they might play him a little later on this season than they might have felt pressured to otherwise.

One thing that has been clear is that Jones plans to play during the 2017 season.

Prior to being drafted Jones insisted he would take the field in 2017, saying he would be back on the field six months from the injury -- which would be around September.

Jones' close friend, Green Bay Packers cornerback Kevin King had this to say last week about the idea that Jones will sit out this season.

"He ain't got no other plan but to play. He didn't come to red shirt. This isn't college," King said to NJ Advance Media. "I'd be surprised if he wasn't (playing)."

The trade for Darby does take the pressure off of the Eagles to rush Jones back, but there is no denying that a healthy Jones would be a big boost for the Eagles' secondary. Had Jones not injured his Achilles he likely would have been a top-10 pick.

"I know how he is going to do on the football field. That doesn't concern me at all," King said of Jones. "I don't think he has a ceiling."

Eliot Shorr-Parks may be reached at eshorrpa@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotShorrParks. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook