(670 The Score) Around the NFL, executives and coaches will often say these are the most difficult days they face.
Teams must cut their rosters from the 80-man limit of this preseason down to 53 by Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. That means 864 players will be cut over the course of a few days -- with the majority not receiving a fair shot to prove themselves. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there was no rookie minicamp, no OTAs, no veteran minicamp, no preseason games and far fewer training camp snaps.
The Bears began their cuts Wednesday night and will continue until the Saturday afternoon deadline.
Follow along here with the latest cuts as the Bears trim their roster to the 53-man limit.
RB Napoleon Maxwell -- The Bears signed Maxwell back to their roster Monday and waived him Thursday, perhaps an encouraging sign for the status of starting running back David Montgomery (groin).
WR Alex Wesley -- Wesley spent the final weeks of the 2019 season on the Bears' practice squad. He was a casualty of depth at wide receiver.
WR Ahmad Wagner -- The 6-foot-7 Wagner transferred from Iowa's basketball program to play football at Kentucky. He was signed as an intriguing project for the Bears and is a candidate to land on a practice squad.
OL Corey Levin -- One of the Bears' veteran cuts, Levin played 16 games for the Titans in 2018.
DL Lee Autry -- A rookie out of Mississippi State, Autry is the younger brother of Colts defensive lineman Denico Autry.
LB Keandre Jones -- A team captain at Maryland last season, Jones flashed potential in training camp. The Bears are thin with inside linebacker depth, making him a practice squad candidate.
WR Thomas Ives -- The Bears have depth at wide receiver, and Ives was a casualty from 53-man roster contention, a source said. He's expected to land on the practice squad.
K Cairo Santos -- The Bears are hopeful to sign Santos back to the roster. He could be the team's kicker for the start of the regular season, as Eddy Pineiro may be placed on injured reserve due to a groin injury.
RB Artavis Pierce -- Pierce will be waived, the Sun-Times first reported, which is perhaps a positive sign for the status of Montgomery.
DL LaCale London -- The Bears could sign London, a rookie out of Western Illinois, back to the practice squad.
WR Reggie Davis -- Davis offered an option in the kickoff return game. He could be a practice squad candidate.
WR Rodney Adams -- A veteran cut, Adams was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings in 2017.
CB Xavier Crawford -- A sixth-round pick of the Texans in 2019, Crawford faced steep competition at cornerback.
OL Dieter Eiselen -- It's a shame to see a unique story come to an end. A South African, Eiselen had a tough battle to make the roster against several other homegrown prospects.
TE Jesper Horsted -- The Bears like Horsted as an option at the U tight end. He may be a reserve option if stashed on the practice squad.
OL Lachavious Simmons -- A seventh-round pick of the Bears this spring, Simmons figures to be a practice squad candidate if he made a strong enough impression.
LB Rashad Smith -- Smith lost out in a competition for the Bears' reserve spots at inside linebacker.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
