Here’s our stab at the Seahawks' final 53-man roster. Coach Pete Carroll and his staff have until Friday at 6 p.m. PT to get the roster trimmed down from 75 players to 53.
In Sunday's first wave of cuts, the Seahawks released three players -- OL Deuce Lutui, WR Terrell Owens and DB Roy Lewis -- who we projected to make the final roster. So who takes their spots? Read our third and final 53-man projection below:
QB – In (3): Russell Wilson, Matt Flynn, Josh Portis. Out: No one. Analysis: The quarterback drama is finally over in Seattle: Tarvaris Jackson is now in Buffalo and Carroll deservedly anointed Russell Wilson the Week 1 starter. Josh Portis didn't get much publicity during camp, so here's a Portis fact: the second-year QB was the Division II player of the year while attending California University of Pennsylvania.
RB – In (5): Marshawn Lynch, Leon <span data-shortcode=" data-canon="Leon Washington" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_PLAYER" id="shortcode0">, Robert Turbin, Kregg Lumpkin and Michael Robinson (FB). Out: Vai Taua Analysis: Its beginning to look more and more like the Seahawks could go with five running backs. However, that's still not set in stone, which means Lumpkin still can't feel safe and Leon Washington shouldn't feel too safe either. If the Hawks go with four, Washington probably has a slight edge over Lumpkin because of his kick return abilities.
WR – In (6): Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate, Braylon Edwards, Ben Obomanu, Deon Butler. Out: Kris Durham, Ricardo Lockette, Charly Martin, Jermaine Kearse, Lavasier Tuinei. Analysis: Last week, Terrell Owens was on our "in" list and now he's out. Owens' spot on the roster now goes to Braylon Edwards. The eight-year veteran already seems to have a connection with QB Wilson, Edwards has three catches for 83 yards and a TD this preseason; all three passes came from Wilson. Also, as the Tacoma News-Tribune points out, Charly Martin is starting to build a good rapport with Wilson. This is good news for Martin, but it could be bad news for Deon Butler. We're keeping Butler on the final roster, but don't be shocked if that spot goes to Martin.
TE – In (3): Zach Miller, Kellen Winslow Jr., Anthony McCoy. Out: Sean McGrath, Cooper Helfet. Analysis: We've been adamant since Day 1 that Anthony McCoy would make the team and with Cameron Morrah's cut Sunday, that's almost a guarantee now. It looks like the Seahawks will go with three tight ends and it looks like Miller, Winslow Jr., and McCoy will be your guys.
OL – In (9): Russell Okung, Paul McQuistan, John Moffitt, Max Unger, Breno Giacomini, Frank Omiyale, J.R. Sweezy, Rishaw Johnson, Lemuel Jeanpierre. Out: Allen Barbre, Paul Fanaika, Kris O’Dowd. PUP: James Carpenter. Analysis: The most shocking cut made by the Seahawks Sunday was the release of G Deuce Lutui. Thanks to Lutui's cut, Rishaw Johnson goes from the outside looking in to actually in.
DL – In (9): Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, Alan Branch, Brandon Mebane, Clinton McDonald, Bruce Irvin, Gregg Scruggs, Jason Jones, Jaye Howard. Out: Pep Livingston , Pierre Allen, Cordarro Law. Analysis: Seventh-round pick Scruggs keeps doing just enough to make the roster. The Louisville product has recorded at least a half-sack in each of the Seahawks' three preseason games.
LB – In (6): K.J. Wright, Bobby Wagner, Heath Farwell, Leroy Hill, Michael Morgan, Malcolm Smith. Out: Korey Toomer, Allen Bradford, Kyle Knox, Matt McCoy. Analysis: The two players to watch in Thursday's final preseason game are Toomer and Morgan. Both are fighting to make the roster. We've had Morgan projected to make the roster since Day 1, so we're not going to move him now.
DB – In (9): Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, Marcus Trufant, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Jeremy Lane, Phillip Adams, Chris Maragos, Jeron Johnson . Out: Byron Maxwell, Winston Guy , DeShawn Shead. PUP: Walter Thurmond. Analysis: Roy Lewis probably would have found a spot on the roster if he wasn't injured, but he is, so the Seahawks waived him with injury designation on Sunday. The benefactor there: Jeremy Lane. The sixth-round pick out of Northwestern St. (La.) will have one final chance to cement his roster spot on Thursday against the Raiders.
Special teams – In (3): P Jon Ryan, LS Clint Greshman, K Steven Hauschka. Out: No one. Analysis: There's no award for being the preseason leader in points scored, but that's what Hauschka is right now. The fourth-year veteran has hit 8 of 9 FGAs in three games and scored 35 points so far, seven more than second place scorer Blair Walsh of Minnesota.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Seahawks blogger John Breech follow @JohnBreech and @CBSSportsNFLSEA.
