FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Don Jones, who was waived by the New England Patriots on Thursday despite his standing as the club's third-leading tackler on special teams, was claimed by the Miami Dolphins on Friday, ESPN.com NFL Insider Field Yates reports. The Dolphins later confirmed the transaction.

The Dolphins are familiar with Jones, as they drafted him in the seventh round last year and spent 2013 and all of the 2014 offseason and preseason with them before being claimed by New England on waivers.

Jones appeared in nine games for the Patriots this season, teaming with Matthew Slater to form one of the NFL's best 1-2 coverage tandems. Coaches credited him with eight special-teams tackles, which ranked behind only Slater (10) and linebacker Chris White (9).

Jones' release by the Patriots on Thursday was viewed as a surprise, given his production.

"We did what we thought was best for the football team," coach Bill Belichick said Friday. "He has had production, but in the end, we're going to do what's best for the team."

The Patriots will host the Dolphins on Dec. 14.

Between the release of Jones and White sustaining an ankle injury Thursday that kept him out of practice Friday, the Patriots' special teams have taken a bit of a hit entering Sunday's game at Green Bay.