The deadline for the Bears — and the rest of the NFL — to drop their training camp roster to 53 players is Tuesday at 3 p.m.

It’s a brutal day for dreams in football. Over 1,000 players will find themselves searching for their next opportunity after today. Several players will sign onto practice squads throughout the league starting Wednesday, and a lucky few might get plucked to an active roster somewhere. For many, this was their final opportunity.

However, it’s equally as important to remember the personal triumphs that come with making the initial 53-man roster. Sure, it disproportionately leans toward the negatives, but for at least a handful, today also serves as the ultimate realization of their dream.

F.A.Qs

Starting this season, teams can designate up to two players for injured reserve on cut day to return during the regular season after missing four games. Before this year, players would need to be carried through the deadline and placed on IR from the initial list.

Players placed on IR before Tuesday without this designation are out for the season, unless the team and player agree to an injury settlement.

A player is waived — and subject to waivers — if he has not accrued four years of NFL service time. Vested veterans are released with their contracts “terminated”, allowing them to sign with other teams immediately.

On Wednesday at 11 a.m, the league processes claims on players waived ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Priority is reverse standings order from last season. The Bears have the ninth highest priority.

The 53-man roster you see at 3 p.m. on Tuesday is almost certainly not the 53-man roster you’ll see against the Tennessee Titans on September 8. It’s a constantly evolving situation.

The Roster

As of 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday:

The Bears’ roster officially stands at: 53.

Quarterbacks (2): Tyson Bagent, Caleb Williams

Running Backs (4): Khalil Herbert, Travis Homer, Roschon Johnson, D’Andre Swift

Wide Receivers (6): Keenan Allen, DeAndre Carter, Velus Jones Jr, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott

Tight Ends (3): Gerald Everett, Cole Kmet, Marcedes Lewis

Interior Offensive Line (7): Ryan Bates, Nate Davis, Teven Jenkins, Doug Kramer Jr, Bill Murray, Matt Pryor, Coleman Shelton

Offensive Tackles (3): Kiran Amegadjie, Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright

Defensive Ends (6): Austin Booker, Daniel Hardy, Dominique Robinson, Montez Sweat, Darrell Taylor, DeMarcus Walker

Defensive Tackles (4): Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter Sr, Zacch Pickens, Chris Williams

Linebackers (5): Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Jack Sanborn, Noah Sewell

Cornerbacks (6): Josh Blackwell, Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson, Jaylon Jones, Terell Smith, Tyrique Stevenson

Safeties (4): Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard III, Elijah Hicks, Jonathan Owens

Specialists (3): Cairo Santos, Patrick Scales, Tory Taylor

Confirmed waived: LB Micah Baskerville, TE Brendan Bates, OL Ja’Tyre Carter, OL Jerome Carvin, DB Douglas Coleman III, OL Jake Curhan, DL Michael Dwumfour, DL Jaylon Hutchings, WR John Jackson, DB Quindell Johnson, LB Carl Jones Jr, DB Leon Jones, DL Khalid Kareem, DL Jamree Kromah, WR Peter LeBlanc, LS Cameron Lyons, DL Dashaun Mallory, LB Paul Moala, DL Keith Randolph Jr, QB Austin Reed, DB Reddy Steward, DB Ro Torrence, P Corliss Waitman, LB Javin White

Confirmed contract terminated: FB Khari Blasingame, TE Stephen Carlson, DB Adrian Colbert, OL Aviante Collins, DL Byron Cowart, DB Tarvarius Moore, DB Greg Stroman Jr, WR Freddie Swain, TE Tommy Sweeney

Injured Reserve: OL Larry Borom (short-term), DL Jacob Martin (short-term), WR Dante Pettis (season-ending), WR Nsimba Webster (season-ending), RB Ian Wheeler (season-ending)