Tag: Malcolm Perry

Patriots part ways with two players ahead of training camp

The New England Patriots parted ways with defensive tackle Byron Cowart.

The New England Patriots parted ways with defensive tackle Byron Cowart, who landed with the Indianapolis Colts on waivers this weekend. Receiver Malcolm Perry elected to retire from the NFL, with the Patriots placing him on the reserve/retired list on Friday, according to the NFL transaction wire.

The Patriots drafted Cowart in the fifth round in 2019. Though he wasn’t enormously productive at Maryland, he was the No. 1 overall recruit coming out of high school, according to ESPN and Rivals. New England used him in a number of ways, including as a substitutional pass-rusher from the interior. He was not particularly efficient in that role and the Patriots must have felt Cowart was very unlikely to make their roster in 2022.

Perry, who attended Navy and played quarterback for the Midshipmen, plans to return to military service, per NESN’s Doug Kyed. Perry worked with Patriots in 2021 and 2022 and spent time learning the slot receiver position. He did not figure to make roster, however, with a deep group of receivers sitting ahead of Perry in New England.

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Patriots sign WR Malcolm Perry to reserve/future contract

The Patriots brought back Malcolm Perry on Wednesday.

The New England Patriots brought back a familiar face at wide receiver on Wednesday.

The organization signed Malcolm Perry on a reserve/future contract, per Zack Cox of NESN.com. Perry will not be eligible to play in the postseason.

The Patriots first claimed Perry off waivers in September, after he was cut from the Miami Dolphins. He was released by the Patriots in November after not appearing in a game for the team. Following his time in New England, he was claimed by the New Orleans Saints and spent time on their practice squad, and then he was was cut by the organization on December 28.

Perry first rose to fame as an option quarterback for Navy. The Dolphins drafted him as a wide receiver in the 2020 draft. He appeared in nine games for Miami that year, catching nine passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.

It will be intriguing to see if Perry will be able to make any contributions for the Patriots following this season. With his athleticism and speed, he could be a dark horse to watch when minicamps get underway.

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Saints release 4 players from their practice squad including former Navy QB Malcolm Perry

The Saints released four players from their practice squad, including former Navy QB-turned-WR Malcolm Perry:

The New Orleans Saints released four players from their practice squad following Week 16’s loss tot he Miami Dolphins, including former Naval Academy quarterback Malcolm Perry. He was inactive for that game but the other three practice squad players being let go did suit up. Here’s what you need to know about each departure:

Saints bring up three players from practice squad in last-minute roster moves

Saints bring up three players from practice squad in last-minute roster moves

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The New Orleans Saints brought up three players from their practice squad before their prime-time game with the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving, while also bringing back a player they previously released. But one name you won’t see on the field is wide receiver Malcolm Perry, the former Naval Academy quarterback-turned-Dolphins and Patriots receiver who signed with their practice squad this week. He needs more time to get game-ready.

Here’s what you need to know:

Former Dolphins WR, Navy QB Malcolm Perry to sign with Saints practice squad

Former Dolphins WR, Navy QB Malcolm Perry to sign with Saints practice squad

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That’s interesting: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that the New Orleans Saints are signing Malcolm Perry to their practice squad, which was confirmed by the Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Amie Just. Perry starred as a quarterback for the United States Naval Academy while also seeing time in the slot as a receiver, so he offers a versatile skills set despite some athletic limitations (having timed the 40-yard dash in just 4.63 seconds while weighing in at 5-foot-9 and 186 pounds, with middling scores in other testing drills).

Initially drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, Perry appeared in nine games and caught 9 of 13 targets for 92 receiving yards, catching a touchdown pass and converting 4 first downs. He also saw limited work as a returner on punts and kickoffs. The Dolphins released him during final roster cuts this summer and the New England Patriots acted quickly to claim him. But a foot injury in practice sidelined him on the injured reserve list until the Patriots released him on Nov. 17.

Now he’s joining the Saints practice squad with an opportunity to be signed to the active roster. They’ve got Deonte Harris, Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, Kenny Stills, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and an injured Ty Montgomery on the 53-man roster with Easop Winston Jr. and rookie draft pick Kawaan Baker also on the practice squad, but it’s possible someone may be released to make room for Perry. Veteran backup Kevin White was also let go last week.

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What we should expect from former Dolphin Malcolm Perry in New England

What we should expect from former Dolphin Malcolm Perry in New England

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By most accounts, Malcolm Perry had himself a nice training camp in 2021. The 2020 7th-round draft selection showcased great quickness and agility with the football; proving to be a headache to corral at times. But when the time came for roster cuts, Perry was one of the receivers to get hit with a cut — although it was reported that the Dolphins were hoping to get him back on the practice squad.

They never had the chance.

Because Perry was claimed on Wednesday by the New England Patriots, finding a home on New England’s 53-man roster for the season ahead — an arrangement that will offer a reunion with the Dolphins sooner rather than later. The two teams play in Week 1.

That surely isn’t the root of New England’s claim in Perry — Bill Belichick has a soft spot for the Naval Academy thanks to his father’s time there and Belichick’s own roots starting in Annapolis. And the Patriots certainly need help at wide receiver. But Perry’s exposure to the Dolphins offense all offseason surely is the icing on the cake for this fit for the Patriots.

In the short-term, Perry offers the Patriots a chance to uncover some of the core principles of Miami’s offense and help take away some of the surprises that Miami is going to be unfolding against New England. But it is important to bear in mind that Perry will be out of the building for nearly two full weeks of game-specific install time for this game; leaving plenty of new wrinkles to be put into place that can still catch the Patriots off guard.

In the long-term, Perry can offer the Patriots a potential specialist in the return game and the upside to continue developing into a slot receiver. Perry isn’t a big body and his route running is still a work in progress; understandable for a former option quarterback. It isn’t likely that Perry is the next Wes Welker (or anything close), despite the cries of some fans on social media after the claim was made public.

Welker will forever be the exception to the rule. Perry is an easy player to root for; but he was ultimately too low on the Dolphins’ pecking order to survive cuts in his second year. That discrepancy in polish isn’t going to disappear just because he walks through the doors in New England. Granted, he’ll have a bigger opportunity up north — but that says more about a wide receiver room whose top three options are currently Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne than it does anything else.

Patriots claim RB/WR Malcolm Perry from Dolphins off waivers

The Patriots added another player from Navy.

The Patriots spent Tuesday trimming down their roster to make sure they were at the league-mandated 53 players.

With so many guys hitting the streets, New England was bound to find someone that they liked, and that player was Malcolm Perry, who the team claimed off of waivers.

Perry was a college quarterback at Navy for four seasons where he ran their run-heavy offense well. In his collegiate career, he totaled 4,359 yards and 40 touchdowns on the ground, while throwing for just 1,311 yards and 10 passing touchdowns.

The Dolphins drafted the former Midshipman in the seventh round of the 2020 draft with plans to convert him into an offensive weapon. He appeared in nine games last season, recording nine receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball three times for five yards.

Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels are looking to added weapons to their offense, and Perry could bring some more versatility to the group. At 5-foot-9, it’s unlikely that he will end up being a huge red zone target or contested-catch receiver, but he may be able to assist in the slot.

Anybody who can help Mac Jones succeed in his first season is surely welcome.

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Dolphins’ Malcolm Perry writes guest column for Fourth of July

Dolphins’ Malcolm Perry writes guest column for Fourth of July

The Fourth of July came and went this Sunday as yet another annual celebration of the United States’ independence; but this year’s holiday brought with it a unique surprise and special offering for Miami Dolphins fans everywhere. Former Navy Midshipman quarterback and current Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malcolm Perry penned a unique guest column to mark the holiday:

Perry served as the guest author of Sports Illustrated’s weekly ‘Monday Morning Quarterback’ column for Albert Breer. Perry, who is getting a chance to live out his NFL dream and has deferred his Naval commitments until after his playing career is over, wrote extensively about service and what the Fourth of July meant to him.

It is a tremendous read and a good look into one of Miami’s young talents from the 2020 NFL draft. Perry saw a few opportunities towards the end of his rookie season in 2020, highlighted by a touchdown reception in Miami’s final contest of the year against the Buffalo Bills. Whether or not he gets a significant opportunity this upcoming season will be decided by whether or not he can command control of one of the wide receiver slots on the active roster. That won’t be easily done — but Perry has endured plenty of mental challenges on his path to the NFL.

You can read Perry’s column discussing the meaning of the Fourth of July for Sports Illustrated here.

Report: Dolphins asking Malcolm Perry to learn slot WR

Report: Dolphins asking Malcolm Perry to learn slot WR

The Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver room got turned upside down this week with the announcements from both Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson that neither will play this season. For a team that elected not to add a single wide receiver to their roster this offseason, that’s a tough pill to swallow — but a development that the Dolphins will gladly take in stride in order to support Hurns and Wilson with their respective decision.

But it seems as though the Dolphins did indeed add a wide receiver this offseason after all. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is reporting that the Dolphins are asking former Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry to learn how to play slot receiver, citing a team source.

“The Dolphins are expected to take a look at him at both running back and receiver,” wrote Jackson.

“And Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper said Perry reminds him of Julian Edelman and Antwaan Randle-El, two former college quarterbacks who excelled as receivers in the NFL.”

That is about as promising and optimistic of a forecast as you could possibly have for a triple-option quarterback. And if he does live up to that potential, it will go down as a big win for the Dolphins. But it also isn’t likely to help Miami with their pressing issue in 2020. Given how inexperienced Perry is at running routes, it is difficult to envision him becoming crafty enough in that capacity to win with frequency as a rookie from the slot — meaning he’s going to have to make the active roster as either a return man or as a backup running back and then continue to develop his craft.

Perry might be the answer in the slot for the long run, but he’s not going to be the panacea for Miami’s recent wide receiver departures for the here and now.

Several Dolphins donate plasma after COVID-19 recovery

Several Dolphins donate plasma after COVID-19 recovery

You often can’t control what life throws your way, but you can absolutely control how you respond to it. For several Miami Dolphins, a COVID-19 diagnosis and recovery has prompted an opportunity to make a better situation for those in need — and that’s exactly what players like rookie Malcolm Perry and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel are doing.

The Miami Dolphins have revealed that both Perry and Van Ginkel has donated convalescent plasma after COVID-19 recoveries in an effort to better position individuals less able to fend off the virus on their own to make a full recovery and avoid serious hospitalization or even worse. Perry, who was the team’s final draft selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, spoke during a feature video released by the Dolphins about his situation and why it made so much sense to use his brush with the pandemic for the greater good.

“It’s a blessing in disguise,” said Perry.

You know, being able to give back to people who weren’t fortunate enough to react in the same way you did, being able to help them and give back to the community.”

Additional players on Miami’s roster to have endured the virus is not currently known, although the Dolphins do currently have two players, CB Cordrea Tankersley and LS Blake Ferguson, on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That isn’t a guarantee of a positive test, but it means the two have at the very least been in close contact with someone who did test positive for the virus.