Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Ray Willis will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times reports.

Willis was held out of practices last week, and did not play in the team's pre-season opener against Tennessee. Willis' surgery is expected to sideline him for the start of the regular season.

A fifth-round pick out of Florida State University in 2005, Willis has appeared in 44 games during his five-year career, including 26 starts over the last two seasons. Willis (6-6, 304) started all 16 games at right tackle last season, playing in all 1,043 of the team's official offensive snaps.

Willis played left tackle during the Seahawks' mini-camps and OTAs, as well as during the beginning of training camp while first-round pick Russell Okung remained unsigned. When Okung signed, Willis was expected to compete with Sean Locklear for the starting right tackle spot. Between how far he was behind Locklear, and this knee operation, Willis appears destined to be the team's "swing" tackle once he's healthy enough to return.

Willis is entering the second season of a two-year, $6 million contract he signed last off-season. Willis changed agents earlier this year, hiring Drew Rosenhaus to represent him.