“Hard Knocks” Episode 4 tells the story of Adrian Colbert’s near-accident
The fourth episode of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears” was emotional for a number of reasons. Not only did it put running back Ian Wheeler in the spotlight (and how his rookie season was over before it even began), but safety Adrian Colbert also shared an emotional story about a “near loss” from his childhood.
As a child, Colbert was riding his bike on the street and was hit by a car going 55 miles per hour. Colbert was in a coma for two weeks and his doctors told him he would never play football again. He defied those expectations and made it to the NFL. The episode also showed some of the things he does to stay at peace with himself today and shared how grateful he is to be alive.
Unfortunately, this episode aired just hours after Colbert was released as part of roster cuts. The decision came despite a solid preseason performance on defense. That speaks to the depth of this roster, as general manager Ryan Poles said earlier in the offseason that this team would be tough to get into.
The Bears kept only four safeties on the 53-man roster: Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, Jonathan Owens and Elijah Hicks. While it’s unfortunate that Colbert didn’t make the cut, he’s sure to find a practice squad spot for the 2024 season (though it doesn’t look like that will be in Chicago).
The beauty of Hard Knocks is that we get a glimpse into the lives of people on their way to the NFL. Some of them experience twists and turns along the way, and that’s certainly the case with Colbert. Hopefully he can continue his career somewhere and make an impact.
