Editor’s note: Spoilers ahead from Episode 4 of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears.”
The penultimate episode of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears” was awkwardly timed Tuesday. That’s the nature of the beast sometimes in the NFL. And the cruelty of the league spares no one.
That much was clear in the fourth installment of the series, which brought viewers deeper into the stories of two players who were cut earlier in the day — quarterback Austin Reed and safety Adrian Colbert — and another, running back Ian Wheeler, whose rookie season was abruptly derailed by a season-ending injury.
With only one episode left and the regular season arriving next week, here’s a look at the most notable moments from Tuesday’s “Hard Knocks.”
Most compelling contrast
The NFL Films crew, led by director Shannon Furman, put on a master class during a segment Tuesday that served as the lead-in to last week’s preseason finale game in Kansas City. For three-plus minutes, the episode skillfully toggled back and forth between the meditative zen of Adrian Colbert and the raw intensity of Travis Bagent.
Back and forth we went from Colbert to Bagent, Colbert to Bagent, Colbert to Bagent, the yin and yang of emotional expression.
In one moment, viewers were flies on the wall in Colbert’s hotel room as he created a calming hum with a set of sound bowls. “It cleans the energy in the space around you and within you,” the safety said.
In the next moment, we were inside a raucous Kansas City bar as Bagent, a world champion arm wrestler and the father of Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, let out all of his passion and aggression during an arm wrestling tournament.
“You’re going to see my dad yelling a lot,” Tyson said. “And you’re going to see a lot of normal dudes come close to hurting their arms.”
There was Colbert discussing his contemplative habits. “It helps me calm my mind from spirits that might not align with me.”
Then there was Bagent howling and slapping himself in the head as he finished off another match.
“Let’s gooo!”
What a fun ride that turned out to be.
Most powerful backstory
A peek into Colbert’s journey — eight years, 10 NFL teams — included details on the accident he had at 9 years old when he was hit by a car while riding his bike, suffering injuries that left him, per his account, in a coma for approximately two weeks.
“I almost lost my life that day,” Colbert said. “… The doctor told me I would never play football again. I didn’t understand. I didn’t know. I was so scared.”
That was, obviously, a life-altering experience and has left Colbert as a bit of a free spirit, the type of guy who doesn’t mind showing up to practice barefoot.
“You have to ground yourself,” he explained. “You have to reconnect with nature. That’s where you get the energy from.”
As reflected in the sound bowl scene, Colbert can easily find a yogi’s peace of mind. But then, as shown in the final preseason game against the Chiefs, he can also channel his aggressive side, just as he did with a clutch pass breakup as well as a vicious and well-timed hit on quarterback Chris Oladokun that led to cornerback Reddy Stewart’s pick six.
“It’s a beautiful game we get to play,” Colbert said. “I’m more and more grateful every day.”
That heightened gratitude, it seems, is ever-present.
“I go outside and I’m grateful for the leaves, I’m grateful for the trees, I’m grateful for every blade of grass,” Colbert said. “I’m grateful to be alive. I’m grateful for this experience to be in the NFL, to be among the people that I get to meet every day.”
It’s hard to know what’s next for the 30-year-old safety after he was released Tuesday. But odds are he’ll handle it with grace.
Quarterbacks’ Day Off
In an ode to Ferris Bueller, narrator Liev Schreiber offered us this introduction to a three-player field trip downtown: “Training camp moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Tyson Bagent, Austin Reed and Brett Rypien were together atop the Willis Tower, doing their best to reenact the out-the-window gazing of Bueller, Cameron Frye and Sloane Peterson. Yello’s “Oh Yeah” provided the appropriate non-diegetic soundtrack.
Particularly charming was Reed’s unapologetic trepidation as he considered making his way onto the glass-floored Sky Deck. “I don’t want to feel ‘the thrill of the ledge’ bro,” Reed said, mocking an elevator recording as he exited onto the 103rd floor.
A moment later, he was fearfully tiptoeing out onto that ledge. “I can’t even look. I’m not going to look down.”
Caleb Williams sighting
With Williams sitting out the preseason finale in Kansas City, the opportunity to expand on his growing on-field highlight reel was more limited this week. But the “Hard Knocks” audience got a glimpse into some of the smallest details a rookie quarterback must learn, such as keeping both feet still when receiving a snap and spiking the football to stop the clock.
Matt Eberflus’ on-field teaching of that lesson was reinforced in Williams’ subsequent meeting with Bears director of research and analysis Harry Freid, who had a recent example of an almost-costly gaffe of that same variety. It came on the final drive of the Minnesota Vikings’ Aug. 10 preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders when quarterback Jaren Hall, attempting to kill the clock with 4 seconds remaining and his team trailing 23-21, took the snap and then a step backward before spiking the football.
By the letter of the law, the result should have been an intentional grounding infraction. Ten-yard penalty. Loss of down. Ten-second runoff. Game over.
Fortunately for the Vikings, the foul wasn’t called and they won on a walk-off, 38-yard field goal. Still, true to Eberflus’ philosophy of “never walking past a mistake,” there was a teachable moment for Williams as he continues acclimating to the NFL.
“That’s why we practice this stuff,” Freid said.
Talking shop
The youthful giddiness of receivers Rome Odunze and John Jackson was undeniable during a trip to Woodman’s Market to stock up on snacks.
Starburst. Seeds. Mambas? Check, check and check. The duo even did some browsing in the scented candle aisle.
“You’d think we were having like a 10-year-old birthday party,” Odunze said. “Nah. We’re just getting snacks for professional athletes.”
Still, maybe the best purchase of camp came courtesy of — who else? — rookie offensive lineman Theo Benedet, who couldn’t find the Dude Wipes he was sent to bring back to Halas Hall for his position mates. Benedet instead tried to troubleshoot by procuring some lemon-scented Clorox disinfectant wipes.
Said Bears assistant offensive line coach Jason Houghtaling: “That should go well.”
Added Ryan Bates with a laugh: “That must be a Canadian thing right there.”
Benedet seemed bummed that his efforts weren’t properly appreciated. “I understand it wasn’t ideal,” he said.
Replied Bates: “Why don’t you go first?”
Saddest ending
The night’s most powerful scene featured one lonely tear crawling down the right cheek of Beaura Wheeler, the mother of rookie running back Ian Wheeler, during a 95-second hug outside the Bears locker room after the preseason finale.
Wheeler had five carries in that game at Arrowhead Stadium. But the last one, a seemingly routine 1-yard loss, exposed him to a hit on his left knee that created a season-ending tear of his anterior cruciate ligament.
Just as many football fans were embracing the opportunity to rally behind the purpose of the soft-spoken Wheeler, an undrafted rookie out of Howard who has put his medical school acceptance on hold to pursue his pro football dreams, his 2024 season came to an abrupt and galling end.
Wheeler will need surgery. He has been placed on injured reserve.
“Thank you for coming,” Wheeler told his mom outside the locker room as they embraced.
“I had to see you,” she replied. “It’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
The combination of love and heartbreak proved powerful.
“God’s timing,” Ian said.
“I’m so proud of you,” Beaura said. “So proud of you.”
The pep talk
Credit Bears GM Ryan Poles for doing his best to support a crestfallen Wheeler, reminding the running back that he could and should reach out whenever he needed to.
“My door is always open,” Poles said during a private meeting with the running back inside his office. “My phone is always on. If you want to talk, if you want to cry, whatever you need to do, I’m here for you. You got me?”
Poles’ words of encouragement came across as strong and sincere, evidence of a front office leader with a deep appreciation for all the players on his roster.
“You’ll be able to stick around — which is awesome — and learn and stay in the playbook,” Poles told Wheeler. “And rehab that (injury) the way you should. Then when the time comes, we’ll give you another crack at it.
“I’m proud of you. And I can’t wait to see what your ceiling is going to be.”
Poles also offered a motivational push, too.
“Continue to stay positive,” he said. “Because the only dangerous part about being on IR is, obviously you miss being on the field, but then if you become stagnant mentally, then you start to kind of lose your way. And I don’t want that to happen.”
Mic drop moment
Who knows what the future holds for Reed in the NFL after the Bears waived him Tuesday? But it was a treat to watch him close out last week’s victory over the Chiefs. At the end of a performance in which he completed eight of his 10 pass attempts and threw his first NFL touchdown pass — a pretty 6-yarder to Tommy Sweeney — Reed had the luxury of getting the Bears into victory formation to kneel out the win.
First, before taking the field, he leaned into offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. “Can I say one thing?” Reed said. “No matter what, I appreciate you investing in me.”
That was a sincere, heartfelt underdog moment. Then, Reed gathered his 10 teammates in the huddle for a tongue-in-cheek but still rousing final pep talk to punctuate an undefeated and dominant 4-0 preseason for the Bears.
“Alright boys, you know what time it is?” Reed said. “It’s ‘victory.’ We talk about legendary teams. Listen to me. Listen to this right here, bro. We talk about the Patriots. We talk about the Legion of Boom. We talk about the ’85 Bears. They’re going to talk about the ’24 preseason Bears for the rest of our lives! You feel me?? Come on!”
End scene.
