Familiar faces will meet again in the AFC East opener.
Between the active rosters, practice squads and reserve lists, eight members of the Miami Dolphins were once New England Patriots. And another connection resides on the other side.
Here’s a glance through the list of names from past and present ahead of Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium.
**JaMycal Hasty, running back —** The Dolphins signed the 28-year-old Hasty to the practice squad shortly after its formation in August. He had been released by the Patriots during the 53-man roster cutdown after returning to Foxborough amid training camp. The veteran running back first arrived there as a waiver claim in 2023. And last campaign, Hasty appeared in 15 games for the Patriots, logging 20 carries for 69 yards, 10 catches for 59 yards and one touchdown. The former Baylor Bear also averaged 23.8 yards per kickoff return. Undrafted in 2020, he made previous stops with the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars and stands 56 games into his career.
**Yodny Cajuste, offensive tackle —** The 29-year-old Cajuste was placed on Miami’s injured reserve in the days after signing in August. Originally entering the league in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, he spent four seasons in New England’s fold and endured stints on the IR and non-football injury lists. Cajuste made 17 appearances over that span, starting a handful as a swing tackle, and staying in for 278 snaps on offense and 55 snaps on special teams. After being waived out of his restricted tender in 2023, the ex-West Virginia bookend moved on to the New York Giants and New York Jets.
**Cole Strange, guard —** Strange stands on his third offensive line since the preseason finale. After being waived by the organization that drafted him, the 27-year-old guard made his way to the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns. And this week, he agreed to return to the AFC East for a 53-man roster spot. Strange, taken No. 29 overall back in 2022, appeared in 30 games while with the Patriots. A torn patellar tendon forced the former Chattanooga standout to miss 52 weeks of football. He started 27 games at left guard and an additional pair at center before having his fifth-year option declined in the spring.
**Matthew Judon, linebacker —** A third-round draft pick headed to Gillette Stadium as a four-time Pro Bowler headed elsewhere in 2024. Judon appeared in 38 games, including 33 starts, while off the edges for the Patriots. In red sleeves, he amassed 133 tackles, 32 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles and fumble recoveries after signing as a free agent in 2021. The Grand Valley State product entered the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens in at pick No. 146 overall in 2016. After notching 5.5 sacks and returning an interception for a touchdown with the Atlanta Falcons last campaign, Judon signed a one-year deal in Miami Gardens midway through August. He logged a pair of tackles in his debut.
**Jack Jones, cornerback —** The Patriots waived Jones in November of 2023, 18 games into his stay. The cornerback by way of USC, Moorpark College and Arizona State totaled 42 tackles, two interceptions, one touchdown as well as a forced fumble and fumble recovery after being taken in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft. His rookie season ended on injured reserve and the suspended list. Later on, gun charges stemming from a June arrest were dropped entering his 2023 campaign. The Las Vegas Raiders claimed Jones and he went on to intercept five passes in the AFC West, running three back for touchdowns before clearing waivers. The 27-year-old cornerback signed with Miami in July and had eight tackles in Week 1.
**Joe Cardona, long snapper —** The Dolphins signed Cardona in May after he was released by the organization that filled out his card in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. The 33-year-old specialist held the longest tenure left in Foxborough at the time of his exit. The run stretched 10 campaigns and Super Bowl LI and LIII rings for the Navy Midshipmen product. Cardona appeared in 160 games in the regular season with the the Patriots, handling 1,435 snaps on special teams to go with 20 tackles and one forced fumble. He also checked into 13 playoff games. The long snapper held a spot on the franchise’s All-Dynasty team and served as a team captain in 2024.
**Jake Bailey, punter —** After being released in 2023, Bailey visited and signed with the Dolphins. The former Stanford punter appeared in 58 games with New England dating back to his arrival in the fifth round of the 2019 class. Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors followed en route to a four-year, $13.5 million extension. But after a back injury sent him to injured reserve and ultimately suspended list in 2022, a grievance was filed. Since then, the 28-year-old Bailey has appeared in 35 games on the other side of the division, averaging 46 yards per punt with a long of 66.
**Riley Patterson, kicker —** A member of the Dolphins’ 2025 practice squad, and a Week 1 elevation, Patterson stands 45 games into his career. The 25-year-old kicker has converted on 85.1 percent of his field goals and 96.5 percent of his extra points. Back in 2021, after going to the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Memphis, Patterson had a pair of workouts at Gillette Stadium. Those workouts led to two months on the practice squad. He agreed to depart for a spot on the 53-man roster of the Detroit Lions and is now on his ninth different NFL club.
**Mack Hollins, wide receiver —** Hollins signed a two-year Patriots pact in March as a veteran of 112 games, 40 starts and 162 receptions for 2,069 yards and 16 touchdowns. He started, caught one pass and drew defensive pass interference in his debut. The 2017 fourth-round pick out of North Carolina began his NFL journey with a Super Bowl LII ring as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Hollins was later claimed off waivers by Miami in 2019 and remained in the wideout room there through 2021 — a season in which he was named special teams captain. Tours with the Raiders and Falcons followed. And last season in Orchard Park, the 31-year-old led the Buffalo Bills with a career-high five touchdown catches.
[0 Comments](/new-england-patriots-opinion-analysis/108206/patriots-dolphins-examining-roster-ties-nfl-week-2#comments)