FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons have announced that defensive tackle Peria Jerry, a first-round draft pick from Mississippi in 2009, has decided to retire.
No reason was given by the team in its two-paragraph statement.
The Falcons re-signed Jerry to a new contract in March, not long after defensive tackles Jonathan Babineaux and Corey Peters agreed on new deals.
With Peters rehabbing from Achilles surgery last December and currently inactive, the 29-year-old Jerry was listed as a second-string defensive end in Atlanta's new 3-4 alignment.
The Falcons signed longtime veterans Tyson Jackson from Kansas City and Paul Solai from Miami during free agency. Both are listed as starters alongside Babineaux. Atlanta also added rookie defensive lineman Ra'Shede Hageman in the second round of the NFL draft.
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