The Seattle Seahawks open their preseason on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Below is a look at what to watch for at each position.

Quarterback: Undrafted free agent Trevone Boykin has a chance to claim the backup job with a strong preseason. Boykin has made noticeable improvements since the spring and has a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster.

"Tre [Boykin] has done really well, and he’s impressed us in all of the 'Can the new guy handle it? Can he hold up the integrity in the huddle?' and all this stuff," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "He’s been great at that. I’m really looking forward to seeing him play. He’s going to play a lot, and we’re looking for some good things."

Running back: The Seahawks are banged up, with Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise and Zac Brooks all sitting out. That means Christine Michael and Alex Collins will carry the load. Coaches have raved about Michael this offseason, and Collins has had a good camp.

Wide receiver: Two of the guys vying for the No. 5 wide receiver job -- Kasen Williams and Kevin Smith -- are out with injuries. That means seventh-round pick Kenny Lawler should see plenty of action. Lawler has had an up-and-down camp and will have to show he can play special teams to earn a spot on the roster.

Tight end: Jimmy Graham won't make the trip to Kansas City. Rookie Nick Vannett has had a nice camp and impressed the coaches with his skills as a receiver. The other guy to watch is Brandon Williams. He has had an outstanding camp and has a special-teams background.

Offensive line: This is probably the No. 1 area to focus on. The starters from left to right are: Bradley Sowell, Mark Glowinski, Justin Britt, Germain Ifedi and Garry Gilliam. Glowinski and Ifedi have one career start between them, but both guys have looked good during practice. Sowell has not started a regular-season game since 2013, but he is protecting Wilson's blind side. Britt is playing center for the first time in his career. On the second unit, veteran Jahri Evans will try to show he can still play at a high level.

Defensive line: Undrafted rookie free agent Brandin Bryant has caught the coaches' attention and has a real chance to make the roster.

"He’s been an exciting player; he’s going to get a good look," Carroll said of Bryant. "He has looked very good in practice. He has a lot to learn. He still makes mistakes because he’s still learning, but he makes them coming at you and attacking, and that’s what’s shown up. We need to see how disciplined he is in the game -- if he’ll do the right thing and all that. He has played hard, though."

Rookies Jarran Reed and Quinton Jefferson are worth keeping an eye on, as well. And pay attention to how the Seahawks deploy Frank Clark. The second-year player lined up all over the place during practice, and the defense is counting on him to provide a boost to its pass rush.

Linebacker: Three players are vying to start at SAM linebacker: Mike Morgan, Cassius Marsh and Eric Pinkins. Pinkins might be the most intriguing of the group and could earn the nod with a strong preseason. Steve Longa, an undrafted free agent, has moved up the depth chart and has a chance to make the roster, especially if he shows up on special teams.

Cornerback: The two guys to watch here are Tharold Simon and Tye Smith. Simon has battled through injuries in his first three NFL seasons but is healthy now and has a chance to earn a role. Smith, a second-year player, is competing for a roster spot.

Safety: Kam Chancellor will sit, meaning Kelcie McCray will join Earl Thomas and the starters. But the player to watch is Brandon Browner. At 32, he's hoping to make the roster as a backup safety. The Seahawks could also expand Browner's role and have him match up with pass-catching tight ends.

"He’s doing well, he’s still working at it," Carroll said of Browner. "There’s still nuances and things he’s got to get comfortable with. He can do everything. He can play the run. He can get in the passing game. He can play terrific coverage when we lock him up. There’s a lot of stuff with formations and things like that. He just needs experience, so he can make the right choices and right decisions and all. But he’s doing well and making great progress, and his attitude has been perfect. He’s really gone for it, and he’s been a lot of fun to have out here."