Seahawks' Tubbs to end long layoff today

Ten plays. Fifteen, tops.

That's how much Seahawks defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs is expected to play tonight when Seattle hosts Minnesota in exhibition play.

Not close to what a totally healthy Tubbs would play in a regular-season game, but it's something. And it's a positive, especially since the fourth-year pro hasn't played a game since last Oct. 22.

That's more than 10 months out of game action, and he didn't even practice until Aug. 14. But Tubbs completed rehabilitation from microfracture surgery on his left knee -- a risky venture that some athletes don't come back from -- and is set to take the field.

"I was a little bit nervous just because I haven't played in a while, but getting out there, moving around with the guys, my knee feels great," Tubbs said. "I never got down, it just took so long. The rehab was so long that it's like, 'When is this ever going to end?' I was looking forward to training camp starting because I knew that was around the time when I would get back out on the field."

Forget about going home to Texas or anywhere else. Tubbs stayed in Seattle for his rehabilitation. Then he started camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He was scheduled to play in the Seahawks' third exhibition game, and has met that schedule.

"The trainers are probably going to watch every little movement he makes out there, or in his case, big movement," coach Mike Holmgren said, "and then just see how he does things and then get him out of the game."

Having Tubbs back makes a big difference in the Seahawks' defense, provided he can stay healthy. Tubbs has had arthroscopic knee surgery, Achilles surgery, a high ankle sprain and a hamstring injury that delayed his development as a rookie. But when he is in the game, the 6-foot-3, 320-pound Tubbs takes up a lot of space and makes his teammates' jobs easier.

"He's the biggest body we've got on the defensive line, and we're going to need that," defensive end Bryce Fisher said.

"He moves fast with that weight, and that's the most important thing," middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu said. "I give my D-linemen pretty much free rein. I tell them if you can make the play, go make the play. But if you don't, then you're leaving the double team up on me or [linebacker] Leroy [Hill]. That puts a lot of strain on the defense. He's athletic, and a lot of times when he sees something, he just goes and gets it. He takes calculated risks, and a lot of times he'll make the play."

Tubbs is a player opponents have to account for, Tatupu added. Even when he is out of position on a running play, he can overcome it with his strength and still turn a running back right into Tatupu's or Hill's grasp.

"It's pretty rare to see that, and I think maybe that's kind of what separates him from the others," Tatupu said.

Tubbs said Tatupu tells him every day how much he appreciates having him. Nothing against Rocky Bernard and Chuck Darby, the two defensive tackles who get most of the playing time, but Tubbs is the epitome of a run-stuffer.

In the 11 regular-season games Tubbs missed last season, the Seahawks gave up an average of 147 rushing yards (4.8 per carry). In the five games he played, Seattle allowed 82 and 3.9.

Still, Tubbs' injury-laden career and the difficulty in coming all the way back from microfracture surgery remain in the Seahawks' thoughts.

"We've all been waiting. He's been waiting," Holmgren said. "We all have our fingers crossed. He's a good football player when he can get on the field. His weight is down. It's all good, so now we just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope the knee holds up."

Tubbs feels confident it will. It has been a long road back, and he knows he has the oft-injured label.

"The way my knee feels now from last year, it's night and day," Tubbs said. "Injuries are going to happen. Everything I've been through I've been able to bounce back from. I hope this is the last injury I have to go through in my NFL career, but it's a physical game and stuff happens."

Note

• The Seahawks and KIRO radio announced a partnership extension to keep KIRO (710 AM) as the team's flagship station beyond 2008.

In addition to pregame and postgame shows and the game broadcast, KIRO will also air Holmgren's show twice a week during its morning news, and former Sonics play-by-play man David Locke will host "Seahawks Huddle" on Wednesday nights throughout the season. In 2008, games will be simulcast on 97.3 FM, and the pregame show will be extended to three hours.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com