It would be one thing if Forsett had had only a good week of practice and one good game. Then, the coaches could waive him off as a one-hit wonder.

But Forsett has been perhaps the best player in training camp. He led the team in rushing in its intrasquad scrimmage and its second preseason game and would have led the team in rushing in its first preseason game had he not been thrown for a four-yard loss on the Seahawks' final offensive play of the game.

Here are the issues with Forsett: He is small. Though he is listed at 5-8, 194, he is more like 5-6. More than that, though, he is caught in a numbers crunch. The Seahawks usually keep five running backs for their two-back offense, and they have filled it out with Julius Jones, Maurice Morris, T.J. Duckett, Owen Schmitt and Leonard Weaver.

With wide receiver Bobby Engram injured, it deducts one roster spot from an already full offense, meaning Forsett does not have much room.

But he continues to make plays, making it almost impossible for the coaching staff to ignore what he has done. Against the Bears, he had 136 rushing yards despite playing running back for only a half. He added 117 return yards, and that does not include a 43-yard punt return that was called back for holding.

"That's a decision, that will be a tough call at the end," Holmgren said. "He will be involved in that decision at the end, absolutely."

More than a few observers feel that Forsett deserves a roster spot more than Duckett, who has been average in training camp and below average in games.

He fumbled twice against Minnesota, gaining only nine yards on seven carries. And though he had a 1-yard touchdown run against Chicago, he dropped a swing pass that would probably have been a touchdown and had 27 yards on 12 carries.

The issue is that Holmgren envisions Duckett being a short-yardage power back to address one of his team's shortcomings last season. An even bigger issue is that Tim Ruskell gave Duckett $4 million guaranteed as a free agent.

That's why Holmgren waffles whenever he is asked about Forsett's future. If he were any other player and the circumstances were different, he would be a lock to make the team. But Holmgren continues to reference his lack of size and that the team is full at running back.

"Right now if I said anything about the roster, it would be premature, it really would," Holmgren said. "I like the player and his teammates like him and he produces, but it is a couple games and we have a ways to go here."

CAMP CALENDAR: Camp closes on Aug. 21. The team moves to its new facility in Renton on Aug. 18.