Owen Farrell will miss the entire Six Nations due to an ankle injury.
Farrell, who has not played since limping out of England's win over Australia in November, was set to make his comeback for the team last weekend.
He injured his ankle in a collision while training.
Farrell will have surgery later on Wednesday and will be out for eight to 10 weeks.
Jones said that it was a blow for the team and for him.
It is an opportunity for other guys to step up into leadership roles and for other players to play for that 12 jumper.
We see it as an opportunity. It is rare to have your best team on the field. We are pretty used to it. There is an opportunity to build more leadership depth.
Scotland will play England on February 5th and opposition captain Stuart Hogg believes the Jones side will cope with Farrell's absence.
The quality England have behind Owen is incredible, according to Hogg.
They have a huge amount of leaders in that squad and it gives other boys opportunities to step up.
There have been a number of problems with England's preparations for the tournament.
It is only a 50% chance that centre Tuilagi will play in the tournament after he suffered a set-back in his recovery from a hamstring problem.
Lawes has been unable to train as he continues to recover from a concussion, while Marler has been isolated after contracting Covid for the second time in less than three months.
The team had to move their hotel because of an electrical fire that caused holes to spurting flames three feet in the air.
Farrell's loss leaves England with inexperienced players and untried combinations in the middle of the field.
Henry Slade has been a mainstay of the side for the past couple of seasons and has filled in at 12 before, most recently in November 2020.
The 28-year-old is an outside centre. The other three in the squad have just eight caps between them.
Jones has preferred to use him at full-back or on the wing, but he could be another option.
Jack Nowell was used as a centre against Japan in November of last year.
Chris Jones is a rugby union correspondent.
Eddie Jones retained Farrell as captain last week, putting great faith in him to return to peak form and fitness after a difficult couple of seasons.
Farrell needs surgery and will not play in the Championship after a freak training ground injury.
Farrell will miss the Six Nations for the first time in seven years, and Jones will have to rethink his play-making and leadership plans.
While Marcus Smith is the man in possession of the number 10 shirt, there is a lack of experience in the middle and the expected appointment as stand-in skipper has been delayed by the return from concussion.
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