Jacob Trouba’s expected absence from Rangers practice Wednesday prompted the natural question: Can prized rookie Zac Jones fill his spot on the blue line?

Coach David Quinn didn’t exactly shoot down the possibility. If anything, he made it seem likely.

“Zac is definitely a candidate to play [on Thursday],” Quinn said.

Trouba suffered what the Rangers are terming an upper-body injury during Tuesday’s ugly loss to the Islanders following a hit by Matt Martin, and is being listed day-to-day. Quinn said the valuable veteran will miss Thursday’s game against the Flyers at the Garden, a terrible time for the Blueshirts to lose a key part of their team. It is suspected Trouba suffered a concussion.

Jones, the team’s third-round draft pick in 2019, who signed just eight days ago, got some practice reps on the second power-play unit Wednesday. He could see his first action Thursday in what amounts to a must-win game for the Rangers, who trail the Bruins by six points for the final playoff spot in the East Division with just 10 games remaining.

When asked if he is ready, after only a few practices, Jones responded: “100 percent.” Due to a lack of practice time, the Rangers haven’t gotten a long look at Jones, but he does have a strong body of work as an NCAA (East) second-team All America this past year.

“You want him to enjoy the moment, and obviously he’s going to be a little bit nervous, like most guys are when they start their NHL career,” Quinn said. “But I think once the game gets going a lot of guys’ nerves disappear. He needs to play to his strengths, just like every player does when they get to this level.

“They can’t change the way they play, can’t be afraid of making mistakes, and if they do make a mistake, they have to shake it off and move forward. That’s what pros do. So, first thing is, just enjoy it. Enjoy the moment. He’s worked very hard.”

Without Trouba, the Rangers were defenseless for most of Tuesday’s 6-1 beatdown, their most lopsided defeat of the season. While the Rangers could opt for Libor Hajek in place of Trouba, it’s possible Jones and Hajek both will be active, considering how much Anthony Bitetto has struggled in the last two games.

“You can see the skill [Jones] has,” fellow defenseman Adam Fox said. “I watched a little bit of the college games he was playing in, and you could just see the talent he has. Definitely excited to see him in a game.”

In less than two weeks, Jones could end up going from winning a NCAA championship with Massachusetts to signing with the Rangers to getting on the ice in an NHL game. The transition hasn’t been as difficult as it might seem, he said, since the Rangers are such a young team. It is similar to when Jones joined the UMass hockey team.

“Most of the guys here are around the age of guys who played on my team last year and this year,” he said. “So it’s been pretty easy for me coming in and talking to the guys.”

Jones has talked about the differences he has noticed in the NHL game: How much faster and crisper the passing is. But that is something he only has seen in practice or by watching a few games up close. The real thing could come for him Thursday night.

“I’ll be out there trying to help the team any way I can, any way they need me to,” Jones said, when asked about the possibility of making his NHL debut. “So if I get that chance, I’m going to make the most of it.”