The Denver Broncos have just one player unable to go as they prepare for their season to start.
A.T. Perry, a reserve wide receiver who is recovering from an ankle injury, was placed on the physically unable to perform list and was the only Broncos player on that list.
Perry, a 2023 sixth-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints, was waived midseason by New Orleans after missing time with a hand injury and falling out of favor with its coaching staff. The Broncos signed him to their practice squad Oct. 9, but Perry did not play for them last season.
Perry is ineligible to practice until the Broncos activate him, but he can be activated at any point.
Who Is A.T. Perry?
Perry has had a curious career, which started when he was selected by the Saints with the 195th pick of the draft two years ago.
The 6-5, 205-pound receiver was a highly thought-of prospect from Wake Forest. ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the 2023 combine.
He was inactive for New Orleans’ first seven games his rookie season, then did not have a catch in the two subsequent games. But he then closed his rookie season with 12 catches for 246 yards and four touchdowns over the season’s final six weeks.
Perry was predicted for a breakout season in 2024, then led the NFL in receiving yards during the preseason. Yet things went sideways when he injured his hand in practice ahead of Week 1.
The Saints announced he had not broken his hand but that it was affecting him and cost him the first three games, yet he was called a healthy scratch in Week 2 in Dallas, since he had no injury designation. But they announced a hamstring injury that cost him action in Week 4 then was waived.
The Saints complained of Perry’s efforts in practice, but he still is just 25 years old. Thus far, the Broncos have had no bad words for Perry.
What Is A.T. Perry’s Role With The Broncos?
Perry’s injury is not good for his potentially making the Broncos, but if his stint on the PUP list is short, he makes something of a wild-card receiver who could potentially climb the depth chart.
For what it’s worth, Broncos coach Sean Payton anticipated this injury.
“There may be one player, Perry, that might go a week into training camp and then be ready, depending on how the summer goes,” Payton told reporters in June. “Outside of that, we expect everyone back.â
The Saints reportedly had him No. 3 on the depth chart at this time a year ago. Even though Perry has comparable size to that of incumbents Devaughn Vele (6-5, 210 pounds) and Courtland Sutton (6-4, 216), Perry could be in a position to take the No. 4 receiver spot behind those two and burner Marvin Mims Jr.
There are others competing with Perry, notably Troy Franklin and return specialist Trent Sherfield, for the Nos. 4 and 5 spots. Per Pro Football Reference, Perry has never played special teams in the NFL, which could affect his potential to make the team.
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