Offensive lineman Floyd Womack is expected to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery after suffering an injury during the Seahawks' ongoing minicamp. He would presumably be back in time for training camp. I would expect to get official word from coach Mike Holmgren after practice Friday.

The 49ers lost a former starter today when DE Melvin Oliver suffered a torn knee ligament. The Seahawks have generally avoided these types of injuries at minicamps. I recall Robbie Tobeck suffering a torn patellar tendon during offseason workouts, which reminds us that these things can happen even when players aren't practicing. The players run and cut at minicamps. They bang into each other a little bit. The linemen clash pretty hard sometimes (Ray Willis broke a hand out there this week). But there isn't tackling, and players coming off surgeries generally do not participate.

Shaun Alexander compared Ray Willis' hunger to play with the same attitude Steve Hutchinson brought as a rookie in 2001. Offensive linemen routinely play with broken or damaged body parts (fans might recall Floyd Womack, then a second-year pro, trying to block Michael Strahan in the Meadowlands with his lower arm encased in a cast).

Willis broke a bone in his left hand during this camp. The medical staff fitted him with a cast that covers his fingers, wrist and part of his forearm. The cast is closed at the end, preventing Willis from using even his fingers. He is playing right guard with the starting line. Willis, a fourth-round choice in 2005, said he's so eager to play that he can't take enough notes when watching the veterans.

Alexander said he has been pleasantly surprised at how well Willis is functioning at guard, given that Willis is a natural tackle.

Offensive lineman Floyd Womack left practice today with a knee injury of unknown severity. Womack's health has been a recurring topic given that he has missed time with injuries to his quadriceps, triceps, calf, heel, toe, knee, ankle, hip, hand and head since entering the NFL with Seattle in 2001.

The backup offensive line consisted of, left to right: Sean Locklear, Steve Vallos, Austin King, Mansfield Wrotto and Kyle Williams. For team drills, the starting line consisted of Walter Jones, Rob Sims, Pat Ross, Ray Willis and Locklear. Chris Spencer (shoulder injury) is not participating in team drills, and Chris Gray has missed the start of minicamp while moving his family from Alabama.

Update: Womack apparently injured the knee Tuesday. He was out at practice today but left at the beginning, just as reporters were getting there. The assumption at the time was that the injury occurred early in practice today. The severity of the injury was not immediately known. I have nothing official from the team as to the likelihood of surgery, but will pass along an update once there is something firm.

We had some fun with Bryce Fisher in our newspaper story this morning. If anyone has audio or video of him singing the Air Force fight song over the weekend, feel free to point us in the right direction. Thanks to the reader who tipped me off in the first place. Fisher was able to laugh at himself on this one, admitting that he couldn't remember some of the words. Note: The Seahawks are gathering on the field for minicamp practice right now. We'll have our usual report afterward.