Seahawks arrive at camp, with some notable exceptions

Wide receiver Bobby Engram? He's expected to be there even though the team failed to renegotiate his contract after a career year.

Rookies Lawrence Jackson and tight end John Carlson? Neither was signed as of Thursday, so they may be missing.

Marcus Tubbs and Deion Branch? Present, but probably not practicing. Each is recovering from knee surgery and is expected to be included on the physically-unable-to-perform list to begin training camp, though the team has not announced which players are included on the list.

Those are the most notable absences the Seahawks expect when they take the field for the first practice of coach Mike Holmgren's final season.

Engram indicated this week he will be present for practice even without a new contract from the team. The team's two new running backs, Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett, will try to get a running start to this season, which will begin with three weeks of practice in Kirkland and then move to the team's new headquarters in Renton on Aug. 18.

Jackson, chosen by Seattle with the 28th overall pick, hasn't reached an agreement on a contract, though that isn't out of the ordinary. Only one of Seattle's previous five first-round picks signed a contract before training camp began.

The guideposts for Jackson's deal should be in place, too. Antoine Cason was chosen No. 27, one slot in front of Jackson. He signed a contract with San Diego Thursday. Kentwan Balmer was chosen No. 29, one slot behind Jackson. He agreed on a contract with San Francisco Thursday.

The absence of Tubbs and Branch isn't a shock, either.

Both are recovering from serious knee surgeries and are expected to be included on the physically-unable-to-perform list along with punter Ryan Plackemeier. They can be activated any time in training camp once they pass a physical exam. Any player who remains on the list when the team names its 53-man roster on Aug. 30 must miss at least the first six regular-season games.

Tubbs was Seattle's first-round pick in 2004, but has finished three of his four NFL seasons injured. He underwent surgery to repair a torn knee ligament suffered in the team's final exhibition last season. He required an additional arthroscopic procedure in the offseason. Seahawks president Tim Ruskell and Holmgren have expressed hope Tubbs may be ready at some point in training camp, but that was not a certainty.

Branch suffered a torn knee ligament in Seattle's playoff loss in Green Bay. Holmgren said during the team's June minicamp that Branch's recovery was progressing well but never provided a timeline on exactly when the team expected him to start practicing.

Plackemeier underwent surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle in June. Linebacker Will Herring also may not be ready to practice when camp begins today.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com