And so it begins. The Chicago Bears have begun the process of narrowing down their roster. After releasing standout Mizzou wide receiver Emanuel Hall and kicker Elliott Fry earlier in the preseason, the Bears have released a few more players, and will continue to do so until the roster is finalized. All cuts must be made by Saturday, August 31 by 4 PM ET.

The Bears remained quiet all day on Friday before a few roster cuts began seeping out early in the evening, the first of which were minor.

The First Cuts Weren’t the Deepest

Offensive tackle Joe Lowery and offensive lineman Marquez Tucker were the first Bears released, followed quickly by cornerback Doyin Jibowu.

Jibowu was followed by outside linebacker and Canadian football star Matt Betts:

The Bears have cut OLB Matt Betts, per league source.https://t.co/wBNrQmeWnC — Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) August 30, 2019

After Betts, wide receiver and fan favorite Tanner Gentry was waived:

The #Bears have waived WR Tanner Gentry. — Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) August 30, 2019

Gentry was a member of the Bears practice squad in both 2017 and 2018, and he has appeared in four total games throughout his career with the Bears.

More Preseason Favorites Have Been Waived

The next Bears player to be waived was preseason standout Clifton Duck out of Appalachian State University:

The Bears waived CB Clifton Duck, per source. — JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) August 31, 2019

Duck had an excellent preseason, and is a likely candidate to make the team’s practice squad.

Tight end Ian Bunting, another preseason standout who had a solid training camp, was cut next in a move signaling that the Bears are going to keep four tight ends instead of five:

TE Ian Bunting, a Hinsdale Central alum, has been cut by the #Bears, sources said, after a strong camp. https://t.co/sSXLYY69h1 — Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) August 31, 2019

Wide receiver and special teams star Marvin Hall was the next to be waived, according to Ian Rapoport:

The #Bears are waiving speedy WR Marvin Hall, source said. Plenty more of these tomorrow… — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2019

According to Patrick Finley, Hall may have been surprised to be cut, as he didn’t play in the Bears final preseason game against Tennessee:

Marvin told me last night he thought he'd made the team. With good reason — they didn't play him in the preseason finale. https://t.co/IYXatGlGgS — Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) August 31, 2019

Hall, who spent 2017 and 2018 with Atlanta, had a good enough preseason that he could get picked up by another team. After Hall, linebacker Jameer Thurman was let go by the Bears, followed by rookie defensive lineman Jalen Dalton:

The Bears have waived rookie DL Jalen Dalton, a source said. — Chris Emma (@CEmma670) August 31, 2019

The Bears also cut outside linebacker Chuck Harris, running back Josh Caldwell, and defensive tackle Daryle Banfield.

The roster cuts continued Saturday, with the somewhat surprising cut of defensive end Jonathan Bullard, according to Ian Rapoport:

The #Bears are releasing DE

Jonathan Bullard, source said. A former third-round pick in the D-line rotation. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2019

Bullard’s cut was followed by the release of John Franklin III:

#Bears are expected to place CB John Franklin III on waivers. — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 31, 2019

The Bears also waived defensive lineman Jonathan Harris and wide receiver Jordan Williams Lambert:

The #Bears will waive DL Jonathan Harris. — Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) August 31, 2019

#Bears are expected to place WR Jordan Williams-Lambert on waivers. — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 31, 2019

Bears rookie cornerback Stephen Denmark was next to be waived, followed by wide receiver Thomas Ives:

The Bears have waived seventh-round CB Stephen Denmark, per source. He missed the entire preseason with an ankle injury. Could still be an option for the practice squad. — Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) August 31, 2019

The #Bears are cutting WR Thomas Ives, per his agents at @OSMG_LLC — Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) August 31, 2019

The Bears also waived running back Ryan Nall, per Brad Biggs:

#Bears will place RB Ryan Nall on waivers — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 31, 2019

Nall was a fan favorite, and is a likely candidate for the practice squad.

The Bears also waived last year’s sixth round pick Kylie Fitts, who is another practice squad candidate:

#Bears have informed OLB Kylie Fitts, a 6th round pick last year, he will be placed on waivers. Definite candidate to be re-signed to the practice squad. — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 31, 2019

Next to be cut were third-string quarterback Tyler Bray, and preseason standout tight end Jesper Horsted:

Bears are cutting QB Tyler Bray and TE Jesper Horsted, a person with knowledge of the situation says. We’ll see if those two end up on the practice squad. — Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) August 31, 2019

Offensive Jordan McCray announced he had been cut via Twitter:

Thank you @ChicagoBears for the opportunity! Looking forward to the next one — Jordan McCray (@JMcc63) August 31, 2019

The team’s most shocking cut came when they waived Alex Bars, an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame who had performed extremely well in the preseason:

Unreal. Why would they cut Alex Bars? Means Cornelius Lucas made the team. Gross. #Bears https://t.co/rwFkSRW8Ym — Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) August 31, 2019

Final Tally of Bears Cuts

Players released by the Bears include: Joe Lowery, Marquez Tucker, Doyin Jibowu, Matt Betts, Tanner Gentry, Clifton Duck, Ian Bunting, Jameer Thurman, Marvin Hall, Jalen Dalton, Chuck Harris, Daryle Banfield, Josh Caldwell, Jonathan Bullard, John Franklin III, Jonathan Harris, Jordan Williams-Lambert, Stephen Denmark, Thomas Ives, Ryan Nall, Kylie Fitts, Tyler Bray, Jesper Horsted, Jordan McCray, Alex Bars, Tommy Doles, Michael Joseph, Rashard Fant, Taquan Mizzell, Sam Mustipher, James Vaughters, Jonathan Mincy, Ellis Richardson, John Wirtel, Joe Walker, and Jordan Williams-Lambert.

The Bears also lost offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings to a season-ending quad injury and placed him on injured reserve last week. Tight end Dax Raymond and guard Blake Blackmar on injured reserve.

#Bears placed TE Dax Raymond and G Blake Blackmar on injured reserve. — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) August 31, 2019

The release of Vaughters and Bars, especially, is shocking considering how well both performed this preseason.