Broncos’ A.T. Perry explains “shock” after being waived by Saints

A.T. Perry hadn’t been active for a game yet this year for New Orleans.

Still, he was surprised last week Friday when the Saints waived him from their 53-man roster.

“It was kind of confusing for me,” the wide receiver said Thursday after his second day of practicing as a member of the Broncos’ practice squad. “Just wanting to play in that offense — (Derek Carr) was throwing the ball around and I wanted to be part of that. Unfortunately, I wasn’t. I was on the active roster but inactive (on game days) each week. They said it was my hand.

“It was kind of a shock that I was released just for them to bring another o-lineman in.”

The Saints signed veteran center Connor McGovern and wanted Perry back on their practice squad, but Denver reached out to his agent quickly after Perry cleared waivers and provided an alternative: Come to the Broncos and start fresh.

“I just wanted to take my talents somewhere else where I could get on the field and have an opportunity to play,” Perry said. “I’m just glad to be here. Meeting the staff and the players, it feels real genuine and real around here. I love that.”

Perry was drafted in the sixth round out of Wake Forest in 2023 and caught 12 passes for 246 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie.

The Broncos knew plenty about him from their own draft process but also because Pete Carmichael was New Orleans’ offensive coordinator and Cody Rager a key member of the Saints’ front office last year. Both now, of course, are in Denver.

Perry is a big target at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds and adds to the Broncos’ collection of practice squad receivers that also includes David Sills V, Kaden Davis and Michael Bandy.

“I’m a baller. I feel like I can do everything. Just run routes, play on the outside, slot, tight end, shoot. I just want to stretch the field and get open,” Perry said of his own game. “I can take care of the little things — the detail of the route, catching the ball, talking with the quarterbacks and the coaches, always asking questions and just getting better. Finding a way to get better.

“It’s just Day 2, so hopefully each day just keep stacking.”

Lombardi confident in depth. Speaking of receivers, the Broncos could be dipping into their depth Sunday against the Chargers if Josh Reynolds isn’t able to play due to a hand injury.

He hasn’t practiced either day so far this week and hasn’t been spotted during portions of practice open to reporters.

Reynolds appeared to grab his hand after hauling in a fourth-quarter touchdown against Las Vegas.

If Reynolds doesn’t play, the Broncos could have rookie Devaughn Vele active for the first time since Week 1. It could also mean bigger roles for Marvin Mims Jr., rookie Troy Franklin or both.

“However it shakes out we’ve got guys that can fill in,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said Thursday. “You never like your frontline guys to go down, but our scouting department and our pro personnel department, they’ve done a really good job of giving us depth here. We feel like we can go forward with whoever has to step up and be competitive.”

Mims’ role has been limited so far this season. He’s played 12 or fewer snaps in four out of five weeks.

Still, Lombardi said, “Every week we have plays that are designed to get the ball in his hands.”

The coordinator also thinks Franklin, the rookie fourth-round pick, is close to breaking through.