Cardinals' Budda Baker: Only two stops in Week 7 loss
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Baker logged two tackles (one solo) during Sundays' 30-16 loss to Denver.
Baker was cleared to play against the Broncos after nursing a groin injury and an illness during Week 7 prep. He was on the field for 59 of the Cardinals' 61 defensive snaps (96.7 percent), but his two stops were a season low. The veteran safety is up to 44 tackles (25 solo), including a career-best 3.5 sacks, and four pass defenses (including one interception) through seven regular-season games.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Cleared to face Denver
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Baker (groin) is active against the Broncos on Sunday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Baker has been working through both a groin injury and an illness, but the veteran safety has been given the green light by medical staff to play Sunday. He has 42 tackles (24 solo), including a career-best 3.5 sacks, and four pass defenses (one interception) through six regular-season games.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Should play Week 7
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Baker (groin) is listed as questionable but expected to play against the Broncos on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Baker missed the first two practices of the week due to both an illness and groin injury before logging a limited session Friday. That was enough for him to draw the questionable tag for Week 7, and it appears the veteran safety will suit up against Denver.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Chance to play against Denver
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Baker (groin/illness) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Baker was held out of each of the first two practices due to an illness and groin injury, but he earned the questionable tag after logging a limited session Friday. Wydett Williams and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson would be the top candidates to start at safety if Baker cannot play.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Absent from practice again Thursday
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Baker (groin/illness) did not participate at practice Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Baker played through a groin issue in the Cardinals' contest against the Rams in Week 6, but he has now missed two straight practice sessions after an illness was added to his status on the injury report. If he can't practice Friday, he'll be facing an uphill battle to be available Sunday versus the Broncos.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Notches sack and pass defensed in win
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Baker logged six tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, and a pass defensed in the Cardinals' 18-16 win over the Rams on Sunday.
The veteran strong safety did it all in Sunday's contest while playing all 57 of the Cardinals' defensive snaps. Baker sacked Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for a loss of eight yards on first down in the second quarter, leading to a Rams punt. The defensive back regularly blitzes the quarterback and has accumulated 3.5 sacks through six regular-season games in 2026.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Sits out practice Wednesday
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Baker (groin/illness) did not participate at practice Wednesday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Baker was able to play through his groin issue in Week 6 against the Rams, but now he's also dealing with an illness, and his status for Week 7 is in question. He'll probably have to manage a full practice Thursday or Friday to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Ready for Sunday
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Baker (groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Rams.
Baker did not participate in Friday's practice after sustaining a groin injury. The safety appears to be gutting his way through the new issue to suit up for Sunday's divisional matchup with the Rams.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Questionable for Sunday
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Baker (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
Baker did not participate in Friday's practice with a new groin injury. The veteran strong safety is a durable defensive back, so he may be able to play through the issue for Sunday's divisional bout. If Baker cannot suit up, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson will likely start at strong safety.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Piles up 11 tackles in defeat
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Baker recorded 11 tackles (seven solo), including 1.0 sacks, and a pass breakup in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks.
While Baker racked up a load of tackles, he was burned in coverage on Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 82-yard touchdown on a double-move in the first quarter. JSN made the entire Arizona secondary look foolish en route to 9-155-3 receiving line across 11 targets. Through two games this season, Baker has 16 tackles (11 solo), including 1.5 sacks, on 100 percent of the defensive snaps.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Gets to Herbert late in Week 1 win
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Baker recorded five tackles (four solo), including 0.5 sacks, during the Cardinals' 26-14 win over the Chargers on Sunday.
Baker and linebacker Jack Gibbens combined for an eight-yard sack on Justin Herbert late in the fourth quarter, setting back any dim hopes the Chargers had of making a late comeback. The combined sack matched Baker's total from last season, and he was one of three Cardinals to play all 55 defensive snaps in Sunday's win. The veteran safety has six 100-plus tackle campaigns under his belt, but he'll need more production in the box score in order to make it seven seasons reaching that milestone.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Another 100-plus tackles in 2025
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Baker accrued 120 tackles including 0.5 sacks, five pass defenses including one interception, and one fumble recovery over 16 regular-season games in 2025.
After posting a career-high 164 tackles in 2024, Baker was a bit more muted in box scores this season, but he still finished with triple-digit stops for the sixth time in his nine-year career and was one of five defensive backs leaguewide to reach 120. He also picked off a pass for the first time since 2022. The 30-year-old has two years remaining on his current contract, so he should remain a top-tier IDP option this coming season.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Limited in Wednesday's practice
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Baker (concussion/thumb) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Baker was unable to play against the Bengals in Week 17 while in the league's concussion protocol. He's also working through a thumb injury, and his ability to return to practice in a limited capacity indicates that he is progressing in his recovery. Baker would need an independent neurologist to clear him from concussion protocol in order for him to be available for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Rams.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Remains out Sunday
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Baker (concussion/thumb) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bengals, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
The 29-year-old sustained a concussion in the Cardinals' Week 16 loss to the Falcons and wasn't able to clear protocol in time to suit up Sunday. Baker is now in line to miss his first game of the season, having recorded 111 total tackles and five passes defensed, including one interception, over 15 appearances. While he's sidelined in Week 17, expect Kitan Crawford to operate as Arizona's top free safety.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Doesn't practice Wednesday
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Baker (concussion) didn't participate in Arizona's walkthrough Wednesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN reports.
Baker remains in the league's concussion protocol after sustaining a concussion during the Week 16 loss versus the Falcons. The 2017 second-round pick will need to clear the protocol before he's eligible to return. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Kitan Crawford would see increased playing time during Sunday's game versus the Bengals if Baker ends up being unable to play.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: In concussion protocol
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Head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters Wednesday that Baker is in concussion protocol following Sunday's 26-19 loss to the Falcons, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Despite playing 68 defensive snaps and recording 10 total tackles and one pass defensed in the Week 16 loss, the 29-year-old appears to have sustained a concussion. Baker must clear the NFL's five-step protocol in order to play in the Week 17 matchup against the Bengals. If he's unable to suit up Sunday, expect Kitan Crawford to start at free safety.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Registers 10 stops in Week 16
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Baker totaled 10 tackles (four solo) and a defensed pass Sunday in a loss to Buffalo.
Baker briefly left the game to be evaluated for a concussion but was able to return shortly thereafter. He ended up tying his season high in stops, with his previous 10-tackle performance taking place Week 1 against New Orleans. Baker has posted 111 tackles on the campaign, marking his sixth career regular season with triple-digit stops. He's also notched five defensed passes, including an interception, this season.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Posts eight tackles in defeat
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Baker recorded eight tackles (five solo) in the Cardinals' 40-20 loss to the Texans on Sunday.
Baker has at least eight tackles in seven of his 14 appearances this season and has now produced 101 tackles (46 solo), including 0.5 sacks, four pass breakups, including one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on 99 percent of the defensive snaps during the 2025 campaign.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Records five stops in Week 10 loss
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Baker finished Sunday's loss to the Seahawks with five tackles (two solo).
The veteran safety dealt with a hamstring issue throughout the week but was ultimately cleared to suit up. Baker ended up logging 90 percent of Arizona's defensive snaps in the defeat -- the first time this season he hasn't been on the field for every defensive snap. His five tackles tied a season-low mark.
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Cardinals' Budda Baker: Cleared to play Week 10
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Baker (hamstring) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.
A hamstring injury limited Baker in the first two practices of Week 10 prep, but the veteran safety has been cleared to play against Seattle after logging a full practice Friday. The 2017 second-rounder has accumulated 56 tackles (26 solo), two pass defenses and one fumble recovery across eight regular-season games.
