After a summer full of training camp practices and preseason games, the Seahawks made "some very difficult decisions" to set their 53-man roster on Saturday afternoon, two days after wrapping up exhibition play against the Raiders in Oakland and less than a week after trimming their 90-man roster down to 75 players.

"We have some very difficult decisions to make here," Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said Thursday night following his team's 23-21 win over the Raiders. "We have a bunch of guys that really fit our style and play the way we like them to play, so it'll be a tough weekend trying to figure this thing out. But it's been a good, solid preseason."

To reach the NFL-mandated 53-player limit, Seattle parted ways with veteran offensive lineman Jahri Evans and fullback Will Tukuafu, waived 17 players including 2016 seventh-round pick Kenny Lawler, waived/injured five players including defensive tackle Jordan Hill, and executed trades with the Raiders and 49ers to acquire defensive backs Dewey McDonald (Oakland) and L.J. McCray (San Francisco).

"I think it's an exciting team," Carroll said. "I think with the leadership that we have and the kind of depth that we have, I think it gives us a real chance to have a nice season and I look forward to getting this thing started."

Here's a look at exactly how the Seahawks got from 75 to 53 players:

Terminated Veteran Contracts Of: G Jahri Evans, FB Will Tukuafu

Waived: DT Brandin Bryant, TE Clayton Echard, QB Jake Heaps, LB Steve Longa, WR Douglas McNeil III, WR E.Z. Nwachukwu, WR Kasen Williams, RB Troymaine Pope, G/C Will Pericak, WR Antwan Goodley, DE Tylor Harris, SS Keenan Lambert, WR Kenny Lawler, LB Kache Palacio, DE Ryan Robinson, CB Tye Smith, DT Tani Tupou

Waived/Injured: TE Joe Sommers, CB Marcus Burley, DT Jordan Hill, LB Eric Pinkins, T Terry Poole

Acquired In Trade: DB L.J. McCray (San Francisco), DB Dewey McDonald (Oakland)

In addition, Seattle waived the following four players from injured reserve with an injury settlement: RB George Farmer, DB Trovon Reed, WR Kevin Smith, DT Sealver Siliga.

"We've been living with these guys for a long time," Carroll said. "Been with them all offseason and through the summer here and they've worked so hard and tried so hard to be part of it. It's a shame that not everybody can hang and stay with us, but we'll figure that out. It is very difficult.

"This is not the good part of it, this is the hard part of it."

Looking at the two defensive backs Seattle traded for, McDonald originally entered the NFL out of California University of Pennsylvania as an undrafted free agent in 2014, signing with the Indianapolis Colts and appearing in 12 games as a rookie. He was waived by the Colts in 2015 and picked up by the New England Patriots, making one appearance before being waived and landing on the Raiders practice squad, playing in one game for Oakland after being promoted to the active roster last December. McCray, meanwhile, was signed by the Niners after going undrafted out of Catawba in 2014, when he saw action in 14 games. McCray played in eight games for San Francisco last season. McDonald and McCray must each pass a physical for the trades to be executed.

On Sunday afternoon, the Seahawks and every other NFL team can begin forming their 10-man practice squads. And on Monday, Seattle returns to work for its first regular-season practice, as the team will hold a "Bonus Day" workout at Virginia Mason Athletic Center ahead of its Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins. Kickoff for that matchup is set for 1 p.m. PT on Sept. 11 at CenturyLink Field.