HBO 'Hard Knocks' 2016: Best Rams Storylines, Moments, Reaction for Episode 5

The Los Angeles Rams have their official 53-man roster for the 2016 season, and fans received an inside glimpse of the emotional realities of final cuts on the year's last episode of Hard Knocks on Tuesday.

It started with head coach Jeff Fisher and Rams personnel discussing where defensive back Lamarcus Joyner was while the team was practicing. He was shown refusing to practice in a previous Hard Knocks and missed a walkthrough during Tuesday's show.

Joyner had a poignant sit-down meeting with Fisher where he discussed his lack of passion and standing with the team. Fisher told Joyner a story about quarterback Steve McNair in an effort to change Joyner's spirits. The late McNair apparently questioned his own passion at times before eventually finding it and earning a league MVP and reaching the Super Bowl, so Joyner was in solid company.

The NFL shared the start of the interaction:

Discussing the desire for the game was a fitting start to an episode that largely focused on players who were on the cut bubble with their careers hanging in the balance. 

As is always the case with Hard Knocks, it wasn't all serious football business. Defensive linemen Robert Quinn and William Hayes were shown hanging out with their families and watching Jimmy Kimmel Live. Kimmel made fun of Hayes' belief that dinosaurs don't exist, and NFL Films shared the defensive lineman soaking it in:

Back on the practice field, Hard Knocks highlighted the positional battle between wide receivers Paul McRoberts and Austin Hill with cuts looming. Hill in particular received plenty of screen time this season with emotional moments with his family and young daughter. 

Center Eric Kush was another featured player on Hard Knocks as someone who provided comic relief with his love of tank tops. He was also mentioned as a player fighting for a roster spot.

Those battling for the final spots had one last chance to shine in the preseason against the Minnesota Vikings. Hard Knocks showed quarterback Jared Goff leading the offense for a touchdown in his first start of the preseason, but his day quickly changed with an interception and a fumble. In all, he was 6-of-16 for 67 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the 27-25 loss. 

Quarterback Sean Mannion was much more impressive at 15-of-23 for 135 yards and a touchdown. 

Conor Orr of NFL.com noted Fisher told NFL Network's Steve Wyche on Tuesday that Mannion, and not Goff, will be active behind Case Keenum in the regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. The coach did acknowledge Mannion and the 2016 No. 1 pick could switch places for the Rams' home opener in Week 2.

Neither will be throwing to Hill, who managed only one catch for nine yards against the Vikings. His fellow receiver, McRoberts, lost a fumble on a punt return but made up for it with a two-yard touchdown catch. The fumble still lingered, and Lindsey Thiry of the Los Angeles Times reacted to the receiver's disappointment:

The day after the game was time for strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson to make his way around the weight room and notify those who were released. Some players, such as McRoberts and linebacker Brandon Chubb, earned spots on the practice squad. 

Myles Simmons of the team's official website shared the full list:

Others, such as the late Junior Seau's nephew Ian Seau, were not as fortunate and were cut. Fisher made a point of telling Seau that he needed to add some strength moving forward.

Kush was also released, but it isn't all bad news for the center. Fisher praised his work ethic and performance during training camp, and general manager Les Snead told Kush he played well. The Chicago Bears recognized the center's potential and claimed him off waivers, per Brad Biggs and Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune.

Hill did not receive that waivers call after he was cut in an emotional sequence that also included a conversation with his family about the roller coaster of being on the brink of making a roster.

Hard Knocks switched to more lighthearted moments after the cuts, and rookie wide receivers Mike Thomas and Nelson Spruce ventured down Hollywood Boulevard and had some fun with a Michael Jackson impersonator, via NFL Films:

Now that the Rams have their roster, their focus will shift to the regular-season opener against the 49ers on Monday.

Considering they haven't been to the playoffs since the 2004 season and spent time during the offseason moving from St. Louis, it will take something of a "happy ending" in Hollywood for them to contend this year, as the Hard Knocks narrator said in Tuesday's episode.

Even if Los Angeles doesn't crack the playoff picture in its first season in a new city, the team likely earned plenty of new fans during its time on Hard Knocks.