Offering figure solace after stuffing knocked out, might this be simple? (7,5)

I believe the answer is:

present tense

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'stuffing knocked out might this be simple?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'offering figure solace after' is the wordplay.
'offering' becomes 'present' (I've seen this before).
'figure solace' becomes 'tense' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'present'+'tense'='PRESENT TENSE'

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I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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