Rookie Jones to make debut

Defensive back finally healed from torn achilles’ tendon

PHILADELPHIA » No one on the Eagles knows Sidney Jones, who was activated Saturday, better than Elijah Qualls.

Teammates at the University of Washington, the California connection were like brothers, with Qualls the protector, the guy Jones leaned on long before he tore his Achilles’ tendon at their March pro day.

Qualls says it’s a matter of when, not if Jones becomes an elite NFL cornerback. Jones was widely considered a top 15 draft choice before tearing the tendon, which dropped him into the second round.

“I’m not going to try to put pressure on him and I’m not going to try to tell everybody that he’s going to be Richard Sherman or Patrick Peterson,” Qualls said. “Yet. I don’t know if it’s going to be sooner, or later but he will be one of the best corners in the NFL. He works hard, he’s smart, he has great instincts, he’s athletic and he just wants it.”

The Eagles believe this is the right time to get a look at Jones (5-11 1/2, 186), who clocked a 4.47 at the scouting combine and showed wide receiver-type ball skills during the drills.

The decision to activate Jones likely means he will get his feet wet when the Eagles oppose the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season finale Sunday (1 p.m., Fox, WIP 94.1-FM) at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagles (13-2) can establish a single-season record with a win over the Cowboys (8-7), who are trying to avoid their sixth nonwinning season in the last eight years.

The Cowboys want to get running back Ezekiel Elliott the 120 yards he needs for a second straight 1,000-yard sea

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Rookie Sidney Jones will make his debut for the Eagles Sunday.