The New England Patriots were awarded guard Lester Cotton from NFL waivers on Tuesday after the former Alabama lineman had been let go by the Miami Dolphins on Monday.

To make room on their 53-man active roster for Cotton, the Patriots released Michael Jordan, who had started 11 of New England’s 12 games at left guard.

While Jordan had played 684 offensive snaps for the Patriots this season, Cotton had played 60 at left guard in two games for the Dolphins, although he had appeared in every game on special teams.

Cole Strange played left guard for New England as a first-round rookie in 2022 and the first 10 games of 2023 before a knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Strange returned to practice for the first time last week and can be activated from injured reserve anytime before Dec. 11.

The Patriots hold the fourth spot in the NFL waiver-wire order this week, which means only the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders passed on Cotton before he was claimed.

By adding Cotton off waivers, New England also picked up his contract. He’s in the second season of a two-year, $2.135 million deal signed with Miami last year.

The Dolphins waived Cotton to create a roster spot for offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, who returned from a quadriceps injury and had been on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Cotton entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Oakland Raiders after starting for two seasons at Alabama, including for the 2017 CFP national championship team. Cotton came to Alabama as a 2014 Parade All-American and an All-State selection at Central-Tuscaloosa.

Cotton has started nine games in the regular season and one in the postseason during his NFL career. He has played in 43 regular-season and two playoff games.

Cotton has been waived six times during his NFL career.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.