Editor’s note: The Bears kickoff the season on Sunday, September 8 at noon vs. the Titans. Tune in to the Marquee Sports Network App immediately after the game for The Official Bears Postgame Live presented by United Airlines. For more information on how to watch, click here: https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/shows/bearspostgame/.

The season finale of most training camp Hard Knocks seasons center around roster cuts, and this Bears version was no different. We’re taken along the journey of trying to make the 53-man over five episodes, with the trials, setbacks and unlikely achievements experienced along the way.

There was insight into the cut-down process and how difficult decisions are made, with general manager Ryan Poles taking input from so many while looking at the 53-man roster with a wholistic approach.

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There was something different this time, over previous seasons, that made these moves harder.

“We want to keep everybody, but we’re not in that space anymore,” Poles said in the finale, which aired Tuesday night. “It’s time to win.”

Head coach Matt Eberflus met with the full roster just before cuts and thanked the players for their focus and intensity and passion. Then he offered a hard truth for many.

“The next two days, fellas,” Eberflus said, “the team’s going to change.”

Coaches and front-office personnel were given a chance to voice their opinion on certain players. Defensive coordinator Eric Washington mentioned defensive back Adrian Colbert as a standout. Quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph was asked about Austin Reed and Brett Rypien. Other players were probably mentioned, but those excerpts weren’t shown.

And, in an episode highlighting Velus Jones Jr.’s work to make the roster – he has been featured several times this season – we heard a bunch from coaches and coordinators about what he could do for the team on offense and the kicking game.

The prevailing opinion from those voices: Jones can do a lot.

Then it came to down to cuts, a difficult process for all involved. That includes Poles, who has experienced that moment himself.

“To me, it’s one of the worst days of this job,” he said. “It’s hard to tell that many people that their dream is ending. The ironic thing for me is that I’ve been cut in this building before.”

He was a Bears undrafted free agent in 2008, but didn’t make the team. He got cut and never played another down. That’s why he’s sensitive to these decisions and what they mean for a player.

Fast forward to the cut downs, where we got a look at when Poles and Eberflus released defensive tackle Byron Cowart. The player asked why and was told it was because the Bears went heavy at defensive end.

We also saw cuts of several others players, though those featured were brought back to the practice squad or signed elsewhere.

Now back to Jones. Another team inquired about Jones in trade, though the episode didn’t volunteer the team or compensation offered, or even if it got to that point. Poles said he wouldn’t go below a fourth-round pick, but understood the value of that asset or one from a higher round. He also said that trading Jones was not better in the short-term.

The Tennessee alum has sure value as a core special teams player, which allows him to get a shot at running back while still playing a major role in the kicking game. Running backs coach Chad Morton delivered the good news to Jones, and said he sees great potential in the versatile skill player.

Then we saw the quarterback cuts of Rypien and Reed. The Bears said they’d like Rypien on the practice squad, but he ended up signing with Minnesota Vikings on their active roster. Reed ended up the practice squad, after all that shook out.

The episode showed surprising vulnerability for Poles who broke down before delivering Colbert bad news that he would be released. It was an excellent moment overall, one the GM and the Bears should be commended for allowing to be shown.

“This is different for you, because there are certain people that have something different about them that’s special. You do,” Poles said. “Wherever your career takes you from here, I hope you do great things.”

A post-Colbert-release conversation explains why these cuts were hard.

“You can’t be like, ‘let’s invest in people from mind, body and spirit,’” Poles said, “and then just say, ‘see you later.’”

Those tough moments come, but then you have to move on.

The season finale ends (well, almost) with Poles on the road, scouting the Georgia Clemson ends, showing that the quest for roster improvement never ends. That includes the days after 53-man roster cuts.