Bernard makes mark on Hawks

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Through the first seven games of the season, defensive tackle Chartric Darby could have counted the number of plays on one hand that did not involve Seattle Seahawks teammate Marcus Tubbs lined up alongside him.

Lately, Darby has had to adjust without his reliable sidekick.

A calf injury sidelined Tubbs during the fourth quarter of a win over Arizona 13 days ago and kept him off the field last week against St. Louis. Tubbs has not practiced all week and appears likely to miss his second consecutive game.

That probably means Rocky Bernard will start again Sunday, when the Seahawks face San Francisco.

“I’m used to playing with him,” Darby said of Tubbs. “But both of them are good. They’re going to bring the same thing to the table.”

Bernard filled in admirably as the starter last week, making five tackles and a key third-quarter sack in the red zone in his first start since Oct. 24, 2004. Bernard had such an effect on the game that he was given the defensive game ball.

“That was really rewarding,” Bernard said. “Tubbs was hurt, and I just wanted to go out and play hard and help my team. It felt good.”

Bernard, who is part of a rotation that often affords him almost as much playing time as the starters, has a career-high 5 1/2 sacks this season. He also has 28 tackles, or four more than Tubbs.

“To me, he’s just like a starter,” Darby said. “He brings his lunch pail to work, and he does that week in and week out.”

The first seven games saw the Seahawks use a rotation that kept Darby and Tubbs on the field together, while Bernard and Craig Terrill would come on in relief as a tandem. All four tackles have been productive this season and, as Bernard showed last Sunday, the Seahawks have more than two capable starters.

“It shows we do have a lot of depth,” Bernard said. “Any one of us could go down, and we have to go in and make plays just like we were the starter.”

Jackson may need three weeks

The good news is that wide receiver Darrell Jackson could be ready to play against the 49ers. The bad news is that it won’t be until the Dec. 11 rematch at Qwest Field.

While coach Mike Holmgren is holding out hope that Jackson’s return from knee surgery could come in eight days, when Seattle hosts the New York Giants, he said the more likely target is the 49ers game.

“Magic number” at 4

To borrow a baseball term, the Seahawks’ magic number to an NFC West title is just four games.

Any combination of four Seattle wins and/or St. Louis losses would clinch a second consecutive NFC West championship.

If the Seahawks (7-2) win Sunday at San Francisco, and St. Louis (4-5) loses to Arizona, Seattle would have a chance to clinch the division the following week.

Quick slants

Linebacker D.D. Lewis (knee) was held out of practice for a second consecutive day, but coach Mike Holmgren said he expects Lewis to play in Sunday’s game. Holmgren added that Lewis is likely to have a limited practice schedule the remainder of the season. … Along with Rocky Bernard, game balls from last Sunday’s win over St. Louis went to fullback Mack Strong (offense) and defensive end Joe Tafoya (special teams).