When Jacoby Jones phone rang on Thursday, and the voice on the other end told him, 'You are now a Steeler,' he didn't believe it.

"The first phone call I got I thought somebody was messing with me," said Jones shortly after arriving at the team's practice facility on Friday. "I was like who is this?"

On the other end was Brandon Hunt, the Steelers pro personnel coordinator. He told Jones the team had just claimed him.

"I told him nobody told me anything," said Jones. "Then I told him I was ready to go to work."

The Chargers released Jones earlier this week, making him available for the Steelers to claim off waivers.

"This whole week has been crazy," said Jones. "You are released and you are sitting at home, waiting for a job offer and a call. I was blessed to get one. For anybody it is tough. Like they say, when they close one door, another one opens for you."

Jones arrived on Friday just as the team came off the practice field, and even though he didn't get in any work with them yet, he is already listed as the team's primary kick returner and listed along with Antonio Brown as the team's punt returner. He is ready for both roles and whatever else is asked of him.

"Playing in the league for a while, even in the offense it's the same plays, people just write it differently," said Jones. "Special teams is just chemistry, having faith in the guys in front of you. I haven't been here for 24 hours yet, but I am pretty sure playing against each other we know what we are going to bring to the table.

"I know these guys are going to do a great job blocking. I am just going to run."

Jones played against the Steelers earlier this season while with the San Diego Chargers, returning a kickoff 30 yards and adding two punt returns. But it wasn't the first time he has gone against the black and gold, as he played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2011-14 and knows what the Steelers are all about.

"I knew what I was coming to, a team that is going to fight, work hard, be great competitors, and they are contenders," said Jones. "You have a great quarterback, a great coach. I am here to just add my part, play my role.

"Whatever they need me to do. I just came here to play my role. Whatever they want me to do, I am ready to do it 100 miles an hour."

Jones said the biggest thing for him right now is to just focus on the playbook, learn as much as he can in a short time frame, and be ready to go with his new Steelers teammates on Sunday against the Raiders.

"I am going to go back to the hotel and just look at the playbook and try to get some of it installed in this brain of mine," said Jones. "I love to play ball and have fun playing the game and meeting new brothers. I have a whole new family now. I am embracing it."