Cardinals' Budda Baker: Done for year with broken shoulder
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Despite having played every defensive snap in Sunday's 19-16 loss to the Buccaneers, Baker suffered a fractured shoulder and has been ruled out for the final two games of the regular season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Baker, Arizona's Pro Bowl safety and team captain, sustained a fractured shoulder at some point during the Week 16 matchup versus Tampa Bay and won't return for the rest of the campaign as a result. The 26-year-old now concludes his sixth year in the league with 111 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes defensed across 15 games played. Chris Banjo is now in line to fill Baker's vacated starting safety spot when the Cardinals square off against the Falcons on New Year's Day.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Another outing with 10-plus tackles
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Baker racked up 10 tackles and a pass defense during Monday's 38-10 defeat to the 49ers.
Baker was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain after Week 9, a diagnosis that typically is accompanied by an absence of some sort. However, he's been able to play through the pain, following an 80 percent snap share Week 10 with all of the defensive snaps Monday. Baker now has reached double-digit stops in three of the last four contests, pushing him to 12th in the NFL with 85. As a result, he's upholding his standing as one of the top-tier IDPs.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Cleared for Monday
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Baker doesn't have an injury designation for Monday's matchup against the 49ers, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Baker didn't practice Thursday due to a lingering ankle injury, progressed to a limited participant Friday and was full go Saturday, putting him in line to play Monday. He played through the issue in Week 10 and recorded four tackles and one interception but saw a season-low 80 percent of the team's defensive snaps.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: DNP on Thursday
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Baker (ankle) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Despite coming out of Week 9 action with a high-ankle sprain, Baker only needed one limited session last week to be able to suit up this past Sunday at the Rams, where he took on a smaller snap share than normal (80 percent) and recorded four tackles and his first interception of the season. He's kicking off Week 11 prep with a DNP, but he'll have two more opportunities to mix into drills ahead of Monday's contest against the 49ers in Mexico City. Whether or not he does so remains to be seen, but Chris Banjo and inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons would be the candidates to cover for an absent Baker at free safety.
Baker (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
According to Urban, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said earlier this week that there was a "zero percent" chance of Baker playing against the Rams, but the Cardinals are apparently now leaving the door open for the safety to suit up this weekend after he practiced in a limited capacity Friday. That being said, Kingsbury said Friday that the team will be "really smart" in determining Baker's status for this week, but it's at least encouraging for the 26-year-old's long-term prospects that he has been upgraded to questionable.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Logs eight more tackles Sunday
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Baker recorded eight tackles and a forced fumble during Sunday's 20-12 defeat to the Rams.
Baker (27 tackles) and fellow safety Jalen Thompson (26) continue to pace the Cardinals in stops, and Baker's forced fumble of Rams running back Cam Akers was recovered by Thompson. Baker and Thompson thus are the Cardinals' safest lineup plays in IDP formats on a weekly basis, with both on pace for 145-plus tackles for a 17-game slate.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Paces team in tackles Sunday
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Baker racked up a team-high 13 tackles during Sunday's 44-21 defeat to the Chiefs.
Baker is coming off the second-lowest tackle tally of his career -- 98 in 17 games last year -- a season in which he reached double digits in a week one time. When he racked up 265 stops between 2019 and 2020, he had at least 10 tackles on 10 occasions across 31 contests. If he's back to getting regular double-digit marks in 2022, Baker could revive himself as one of the top IDPs among defensive backs. As evidence, only Texans safety Jonathan Owens and Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick have more tackles through Week 1.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Exits on stretcher
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Baker will not return to Monday's game against the Rams after suffering a concussion, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Baker went low to take down Cam Akers on a run late in the third quarter, and he landed awkwardly on the turf as a result. He remained down for several minutes and was ultimately stretchered off the field. Chris Banjo will likely have to step into an expanded role in Baker's absence.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Puts in limited practice Thursday
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Baker (ribs) was limited at Thursday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
One day removed from not logging any practice reps, Moore made his presence felt on the practice field. After a huge 13-tackle performance this past Saturday against the Cardinals, he only needs nine stops to reach 100 for a fourth consecutive campaign. Fortunately, with this season slightly longer than in the past, Baker has two opportunities instead of one to reach that threshold. First, though, he must prove that his rib injury won't impede him ahead of Sunday's contest in Dallas.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Suiting up in Week 11
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Baker (heel) is listed as active Sunday at Seattle, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Baker has been banged up the past few weeks, dealing with a concussion and knee and heel injuries. He managed just one limited session during Week 11 prep, but it was enough for him man his typical role as Arizona's starting free safety. On the season, Baker has accumulated 59 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in 10 appearances.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Questionable Sunday
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Baker (heel) is questionable for Sunday's game against Seattle, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Baker was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session, but he was unable to take the field Thursday and Friday. Chris Banjo should take on a starting role Sunday if Baker is held out.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Limited in practice Wednesday
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Baker (heel) was listed as a limited participant for the Cardinals' practice Wednesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Baker managed to play in Week 10 after barely making it out of the league's concussion protocols in time to play. The safety recorded 14 tackles (eight solo) and an interception over the Cardinals' last two games, though apparently he picked up a heel injury recently. Expect Baker to play Sunday against the Seahawks as long as he doesn't face any setbacks.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Another fruitless outing
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Baker managed two tackles during Sunday's 31-5 victory versus the Texans.
Prior to combining for four tackles over the last two games, Baker averaged 7.2 in the first five contests of the season. The latter mark prorates to 122 tackles per 17 games, but the recent slide in the category has knocked him down to 97. Baker will look to bounce back Thursday against the NFC North-leading Packers.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Another eight-tackle showing
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Baker had eight tackles, including two tackles for loss, during Sunday's 34-33 victory versus the Vikings.
Baker has opened the current campaign with back-to-back eight-tackle showings, displaying his consistency on that front. He also leads the Cardinals defense in snap share, missing just three of 125 possible plays on that side of the ball. And among NFL safeties, Baker is tied for fifth in terms of tackles with Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jayron Kearse.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Continues to pile up stats
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Baker produced 118 tackles (90 solo), six pass defenses, two interceptions, two sacks and one forced fumble in 15 contests during the 2020 campaign.
Baker tied for the team lead in tackles with Jordan Hicks and ranked second among NFL defensive backs in the category behind only Jordan Poyer (124). While his number of stops fell 29 shy of his 147 from 2019, Baker continued to demonstrate an ability to brush off injuries, missing just the third game of his career due to a torn UCL in his thumb Week 4 and playing through groin and neck issues in the second half of the season. After signing a lucrative four-year extension back in August, he's set to be one of the top IDP contributors on the back end for the foreseeable future.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Active Week 17
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Baker (neck) is active for Sunday's game against the Rams.
Baker was unable to practice Friday due to the neck injury, but he's been cleared to play Sunday after being listed as questionable. The 24-year-old has played at least 90 percent of the defensive snaps in every game this season besides his absence in Week 4.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Practice reps limited
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Baker (neck) submitted a limited practice session Thursday.
Arizona is suddenly dealing with a pair of availability issues at safety, with Chris Banjo (hip) being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday in addition to Baker's injury. The 24-year-old faced no restrictions during Wednesday's practice session; however, with an abrupt appearance on the injury report, Baker's level of involvement Friday becomes worth monitoring. The three-time Pro Bowler has missed one game in 2020 and just three over his four professional seasons.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Good to go Week 11
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Baker (groin) doesn't have an injury designation for Thursday's game against the Seahawks.
After being listed as a limited participant on the Cardinals' first two practice reports of the week, Baker was a full participant Wednesday, clearing the way for him to play Week 11. The 24-year-old has been one of the top IDPs among secondary players this season, totaling 73 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks and a forced fumble through eight games.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Gearing up Sunday
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Baker (groin) is active for Sunday's game versus the Bills.
The Cardinals' secondary is in better shape than Friday's injury report made it seem, as both Baker and Dre Kirkpatrick (thigh) are available and ready to start. The Bills have leaned heavily on the pass of late, so Baker could be busy as he looks to add to the 64 tackles, three pass breakups and two interceptions he's collected through seven games.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Likely to go Sunday
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Baker (groin), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills, is expected to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The same applies to cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (thigh), so the Cardinals look like they'll have all their regular starters in the secondary available as they look to slow down a Josh Allen-led passing attack that shredded the Seahawks for 415 yards and three touchdowns Week 9. If the Bills follow another pass-happy game plan for the second straight week, Baker should be a prime beneficiary of more opportunities to rack up tackles. The safety has already compiled three games of double-digit stops through his first seven contests of 2020.
