NFL: Seahawks hope to avoid injuries in final preseason game

The two positions that need to be rounded out are the ones that everybody had questions about coming into training camp: Running back and wide receiver.

Holmgren is fond of saying that every year there is one or two players who nobody could have predicted would have made the team who did. Last season it was C.J. Wallace. This season it is Justin Forsett.

The rookie from California had 261 all-purpose yards in the Seahawks' second preseason game, then had a less robust outing against the Chargers on Monday night, a game in which he also lost a fumble.

Forsett was getting a lot of work with the first team offensive line during Wednesday's practice, an indication he should get a lot of carries to prove his merit. He also is likely to return punts and kickoffs, giving him more opportunities than most.

"Every play you have to play like it is your last in the NFL," Forsett said. "So I am going out taking it serious and leaving no doubt that I belong here and trying to make it a tough decision for them. That is my goal for this game: go out and make plays and be productive and make no mistakes."

While Logan Payne was the receiver who made the most plays early in camp, he has fallen off since the games began - though to be fair he suffered a cracked rib in the team's scrimmage and came back early in order to fight for a spot. Payne has five receptions for 48 yards.

Jordan Kent, meanwhile, has emerged as the most productive young receiver, catching nine passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Like Forsett, this could be Payne's final chance to show the coaches what he can do. He just hopes he gets the chance. Kent has gotten a lot of clean looks at balls, while many of the balls thrown to Payne have either been knocked away by a defensive back or, like the final pass in the loss to San Diego Monday night, overthrown by Seneca Wallace for an interception.

"That happens, that is football," Payne said. "Quarterbacks are good, but they are going to put you out there every once in a while. It is just unfortunate that it was in the preseason and I am in the situation I am in (fighting for a spot).

"But no excuses. I am going to have opportunities this next game. And I have had lots of opportunities in practice to make plays, so I am going to look forward to those."

The two remaining battles are between veterans and rookies. In one, Olindo Mare is competing against Brandon Coutu for the placekicker position, which was vacated when Josh Brown left in free agency.

The competition is extremely close, though Coutu was hurt when he suffered a groin injury last week and could not compete against San Diego. Mare handled both kickoff and field goal duties and performed solidly.

Coutu was back at practice on Wednesday and is likely to compete against the Raiders.

"They're two good kickers," Holmgren said. "Coutu has been hurt a little bit and that hasn't helped him. It allowed Mare to really show. He's clearly got a strong leg, can kick it in the end zone, which is a good weapon. But it's close."

With the Seahawks taking Lawrence Jackson and Red Bryant in the draft, it was widely assumed that defensive end Jason Babin, acquired in a trade last season for Michael Boulware, would lose his spot, particularly after he did not perform very well either in practice or in games.

But Babin returned with 15 more pounds of muscle and a renewed attitude that may have vaulted him past Baraka Atkins, who was taken in the fourth round last year. Tonight's game could be the decisive three hours.

"Because it's so close, if someone were to have a really good football game (today), it would probably weigh the decision in that person's favor," Holmgren said of the game.