"This roster can't afford any more injuries right now," said Kiffin, who lost receiver Drew Carter and fullback Oren O'Neal to injuries last week. "I just don't see the value of putting these guys out there and losing one of these guys."

The NFL has been exploring making the preseason two or three games and adding a 17th or 18th regular season game. The idea is gaining momentum again after the Super Bowl-champion New York Giants lost key pass rusher Osi Umenyiora for the season to a knee injury last week in a preseason game.

The only players who like these games are the young ones like Forsett and Rankin, who cherish every opportunity to become the last men on rosters.

Veterans? They would love to get two more weeks of regular season paychecks. Their collective bargaining agreements mandate they are paid $1,225 per week in per diems during training camp, plus $200 per week once exhibition games begin.

Owners wouldn't mind the additional TV revenue more real games would command, on top of the current deals with networks that total over $3.5 billion per season — but first have to agree with the players on how much to share that added cash.

Coaches wouldn't mind the decreased risk of injury to starters who barely play the first, second and fourth preseason games, anyway.

"Well, that appears to be the way they're going to go," Holmgren said of fewer preseason games.

Kiffin, who in his second season as a head coach has been in the job 15 fewer years than Holmgren, isn't sure.

"Yeah, that looks good, but you're going to deal with more injuries during the regular season," Kiffin said. "Not that I know a lot about it, but ... imagine the critics that come out when you're playing game 17 or game 18 and all of a sudden your start player gets hurt and isn't there for the playoffs.

"There are a lot of pros and cons to everything when you look at it."

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AP sports writer Josh Dubow in Alameda, Calif., contributed to this report.