The final episode of Hard Knocks with the Bears is in the books, which means the regular season is here.
Best moment: Practice shots
We didn’t get a ton of insight into practices during this season of Hard Knocks, but the production did an excellent job of showcasing some of No. 1 pick Caleb Williams’ final practices ahead of the regular season. The camera transitions from one play to the next were very smooth, displaying the former Heisman Trophy winner getting into a rhythm with how things were cut. DJ Moore was on the receiving end of most of those passes, and it looks like he and Williams are forming an outstanding connection ahead of the regular season.
Worst moment: The cuts
Overall, the cutting of players—and, in many cases, their NFL dreams coming to an end—is always the worst part about Hard Knocks. However, the way it was handled by Chicago appeared to be excellent based on what was shown in the season finale. Veteran safety Adrian Colbert—who, as we saw last week, battled adversity from a young age—was the toughest to get through for general manger Ryan Poles. The perspective from Colbert was awesome, though, and while you hate to see it, his getting cut could have in some ways also been classified as the best moment of the episode.
Funniest moment: DJ Moore’s family
DJ Moore’s daughter Arielle has brought comic relief throughout the summer, and she was having a great time showing the cameras throughout the family’s new house after DJ’s big contract extension. After, the family revealed that Moore’s fiancée Raven is pregnant, with Arielle pointing to her dad and saying, “He thinks it’s a boy.”
Adding Moore to the family 🧡
Congrats, @idjmoore & Raven! pic.twitter.com/h5HRCtQPbo
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 4, 2024
Underrated moment: Velus Jones Jr. makes the team
Velus Jones Jr. definitely earned a spot on the roster, making a successful transition from receiver to running back while also having the ability to contribute on special teams. It was cool to hear running backs coach Chad Morton give Jones the news while saying that he’d get him the ball a ton if he could. Head coach Matt Eberflus seems to want Jones involved, too. Another underrated aspect from the episode was the insight we got into the pre-cut meeting where coaches and staff discussed the players on the roster bubble. Jones clearly had strong support throughout the building, and the Bears even decided they wouldn’t trade him for anything less than a fourth-round pick.
Best quote: Velus Jones Jr.
“There’s a whole lot of unexpected things in life that happen, but that’s how God works.”
MVP: Ryan Poles
The Bears GM discussed how he was a player that had one training camp—with the Bears—but was cut and never made it as a player in the NFL. So, he knows what it feels like for the players he has to let go. Poles even had to leave the room and get himself together before giving the news to Colbert in a real display of emotion. And Poles and the Bears feel they have done enough to take a step forward as a team in 2024.