‘Hard Knocks’ Finale: After Tough Roster Cuts, Caleb Williams, Bears Optimistic About 2024 NFL Season
The fifth and final episode of "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears" was an emotional hour of television. It showed the human side that goes into trimming a roster down to 53 players. But it was also a hopeful finale, highlighted by training camp success stories and overwhelming excitement around No. 1 pick Caleb Williams.
General manager Ryan Poles was a key figure throughout the series and his empathy shined through during discussions with coaches about players and in meetings with those players.
“To me, it’s one of the worst days of this job,” Poles said. “It’s hard to tell that many people that their dream’s ending.”
Poles knows what it’s like to be on the other end of those conversations; he was cut in 2008 as an undrafted free agent out of Boston College. All these years later, Poles is the one informing wide receiver Collin Johnson — a Hall of Fame Game standout — and offensive lineman Theo Benedet — a fan favorite from his singing earlier in the season — that they’ve been released.
“What I try to do is do a really good job of giving feedback,” Pole said. “So they at least know the why behind it and they can continue to work on their craft and hopefully have an opportunity at some point to make a football team.”
Missing out on the 53-man roster doesn’t necessarily mean a players’ time in Chicago is over. Undrafted free agent quarterback Austin Reed along with Johnson, Benedet and defensive lineman Bryan Cowart made the Bears’ practice squad.
Chicago intended to bring back veteran quarterback Brett Rypien, but he signed with the Minnesota Vikings upon his release. Poles said it came down to a decision to keep two or three quarterbacks and they decided on two: Williams and Tyson Bagent with Reed winding up on the practice squad.
Versatile offensive weapon Velus Jones Jr. had a strong preseason for the Bears.
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Third-year wide-receiver-turned-running-back Velus Jones Jr. drew praise from virtually the entire coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said Jones’ had a tough skill set to bypass and head coach Matt Eberflus called him a game-changer. Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower spoke of Jones’ versatility on kickoffs — there will be a premium put on special teams plays this season with the NFL’s new kickoff rules.
“He’s just too explosive,” running backs coach Chad Morton said. “I’m gonna fight for him more than anybody.”
Another team inquired about the possibility of trading for Jones before the roster was finalized. Poles said he would never take less than a fourth-round pick for him and asked: “Does it make sense for the Bears right now?" They decided against it and Jones made the 53-man roster.
The episode concluded with a forward focus for the Bears’ dynamic wide receiver-quarterback duo. DJ Moore, who signed a record-setting extension in July, bought a new home in the Chicago area and he and his fiancee Raven Battle shared the news that she's pregnant. Moore, who started his career with the Carolina Panthers, also mused about the possibility of retiring with Chicago.
Fittingly, HBO’s cameras ended the season with a shot of Williams pulling on his Bears helmet and saying: “Here we go, here we go. Let’s focus. Let’s get after it.”
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