Saints cut wide receiver Perry: Cut | Saints

The New Orleans Saints waived wide receiver AT Perry on Friday, a source familiar with the situation said, parting ways with a 2023 sixth-rounder who finished his rookie season strong but had lost favor with the team's coaching staff.

The cut was a disappointing turn for Perry after a rookie season in which the Wake Forest product finished with 12 catches for 246 yards and four touchdowns. Perry's performance came on the heels of Michael Thomas' season-ending knee injury, and following Thomas' firing last offseason, Perry was expected to play a role in covering his absence.

But during the offseason, it became clear that Perry had not made the progress the coaches had hoped. Coach Dennis Allen said in training camp that he was waiting for the wide receiver to “do something to take the next step.” And apparently it never came.

Despite leading the preseason in receiving yards, Perry was still buried on the Saints' depth chart.

He was inactive for New Orleans' first four games, stuck behind Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Bub Means and Mason Tipton.

Luke Johnson contributed to this report