Oakland Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks: Preview, Team News, Injuries For 2015 Preseason Game

All 32 NFL teams will play their final preseason game on Thursday night as they prepare for Week 1 of the 2015 NFL season. The Seattle Seahawks, who are expected to be a Super Bowl contender, will host the Oakland Raiders, who have been one of the NFL’s worst teams in recent years.

Teams were forced to cut their rosters to 75 players on Tuesday, and the final 53-man rosters will become official on Saturday. Both Seattle and Oakland have made significant moves as they start to decide what their teams will look like next week.

The Seahawks have one of the best running backs in the NFL, and they are doing what they can to upgrade the position even further. The defending NFC champs could sign Fred Jackson, who took a physical in Seattle on Tuesday.

Soon after being released by the Buffalo Bills, Jackson met with the Seahawks. The 34-year-old is reportedly close with Marshawn Lynch, who spent time with Buffalo. Jackson has played for the Bills in all of his eight NFL seasons. His best year came in 2009 when he rushed for 1,062 yards, and he totaled 525 yards on 141 attempts last season.

Seattle head coach Pete Carroll has said no decision on Jackson has been made yet. The Seahawks met with him after backup running back Robert Turbin suffered a high ankle sprain on Saturday night. The extent of Turbin’s injury isn’t known, and the backup hasn’t missed a game in his three seasons with the Seahawks.

While Seattle is considering adding a veteran running back, Oakland has released running back that was drafted No.3 overall just three years ago. The Raiders have parted ways with Trent Richardson, whom they reportedly gave a two-year contract this offseason that included $600,000 in guaranteed money.

Richardson has failed to establish himself as a consistent rusher in the NFL, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry with the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts. He’s struggled this preseason, and there is no room for him on Oakland’s roster with the Raiders expected to carry the likes of Latavaius Murray, Roy Helu and Michael Dyer at the position.

The Raiders suffered their first major injury of the preseason on Sunday when right tackle Menelik Watson went down for the year with a ruptured Achilles. Austin Howard will move over from right guard and be his replacement.

Seattle will visit the St. Louis Rams in Week 1, and Oakland will host the Cincinnati Bengals.