Everett, Wash.
Published: Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Seahawks cut Tubbs

Seattle decides the defensive tackle's surgically repaired knee isn't healed enough.

By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer

 KIRKLAND -- When Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren announced Monday that defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs was no longer with the team, the coach did not have all the necessary details. He told a group of reporters at the Seahawks' practice facility that Tubbs had been placed on some kind of a list, the name of which he did not know.

Apparently, that list also includes former Seahawks like Lamar King and Chris McIntosh.

Seattle parted ways with another former first-round pick on Monday, with Tubbs following in the footsteps of some ex-Seahawks draft choices whose careers were cut short by injury. Tubbs was officially placed on something called the Terminated/Failed Physical List after suffering another setback in his rehabilitation from multiple knee surgeries.

"He hit the (blocking pad), and his knee puffed up a little bit," Holmgren said. "Not totally unexpected, but we were kind of hoping for a little bit better at this point."

Tubbs effectively becomes a free agent, as his current contract was terminated.

The 27-year-old Tubbs never played a full season in his four years with the Seahawks. After being selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft, Tubbs struggled to stay on the field. He missed 27 of a possible 64 games during his career, including the entire 2007 season.

Tubbs had microfracture surgery on his left knee in Dec. 2006, then blew out his right knee in a 2007 preseason game. He had successive knee surgeries and has not played or practiced since then. Tubbs was working with trainers during training camp, but in the end his knee would not hold up.

"Every time it seemed like he was going to be ready to do this, he had a setback," Holmgren said.

The Seahawks could have put Tubbs on the Physically-Unable-To-Perform List, but that would have counted against the current 80-man roster and forced him to miss the first six games of the regular season. By letting Tubbs go now, the Seahawks have the option of re-signing him sometime during the season.

Of course, he is also eligible to sign with other teams.

"I'm still hopeful that, before everything is said and done, we'll have a chance to have him back," Holmgren said.

The 6-foot-3, 318-pound Tubbs was considered a solid run stuffer when healthy. Because of his injury history, the Seahawks stockpiled the position during the offseason -- although rookie Red Bryant and veteran addition Larry Tripplett are currently sidelined by knee injuries. Returning starters Rocky Bernard and Brandon Mebane are back, along with Craig Terrill and Howard Green.

Tatupu returns; Hasselbeck still out: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was among several players who did not practice Monday, and Holmgren is still not sure whether he will play in Saturday's preseason game against Chicago.

Holmgren said that "there is a chance" Hasselbeck could sit out the game, adding that the coaches had not yet discussed whether the veteran quarterback would play.

Hasselbeck injured his back in Friday's preseason opener and has yet to take part in any of this week's three practices.

"He's stiff," Holmgren said Monday morning. "He tweaked it a little bit in the game. We're just taking it easy, taking a couple days (off)."

Center Chris Spencer (back) and defensive end Patrick Kerney (calf) were also still watching from the sideline during Monday's practices. Holmgren said last week that he expects to have both players back sometime in the coming days.

Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu returned to the field after missing Sunday's practices with a sore knee. Fullback Leonard Weaver (hamstring) also returned for the morning practice but did not participate in the afternoon session.

No. 1 pick ready: Rookie Lawrence Jackson showed up for training camp as a backup defensive end who hoped to get a chance to battle for a starting position.

Two weeks into camp, he's already made some headway. The Seahawks' first-round pick has been working with the No. 1 defense this week.

"It was surprising to an extent," he said of his reaction to the news that he would play right end with the first team. "As a competitor, I felt like I showed them what I can do. That's my job. It's (the coaches') job to make decisions. Nothing is etched in stone."

Jackson made a good case for the starting job in Friday's preseason opener, while playing mostly against Minnesota's backups. Defensive coordinator John Marshall said earlier this week that the coaches moved Jackson up because they wanted to get a look at him against starting offensive linemen. The Seahawks host the Chicago Bears on Saturday, at which time Jackson is likely to work with the No. 1 defense.

Darryl Tapp, who started last season and is battling with Jackson to be the right defensive end again this year, has been working in place of injured Patrick Kerney on the left side this week.

Big collision: If Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant had forgotten just how big running back T.J. Duckett was, he got a 254-pound reminder on Monday morning.

In a collision during an 11-on-11 drill, Duckett delivered such a blow that Trufant couldn't see straight -- not after Trufant's left contact popped out, sailed through the air and landed in the cornerback's hand.

"He's a big boy," Trufant said a few minutes later. "He runs hard."

After the collision, Holmgren jokingly held up two fingers and asked: "Marcus, how many?"

Trufant quickly responded with the right number.

"I kind of guessed," the blurry-eyed cornerback admitted to reporters a few minutes later.

Quick slants: In addition to Tubbs, the Seahawks released two other injured players. Rookie linebacker Matt Castelo and cornerback Derrick Johnson, a University of Washington product, were placed on the Waived/Injured list. To fill their roster spots, the Seahawks signed linebacker Dallas Sartz and cornerback Marquis Floyd. … With Hasselbeck sidelined by the back injury, quarterback Seneca Wallace worked with the first team and had a good morning practice. He threw touchdown passes to Courtney Taylor and Logan Payne.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA