BUDDA BAKER NEWS

Budda Baker is Arizona Cardinals Week 6 MVP Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker gets his first interception of his career, and the week 6 game ball. Budda Baker picked off Dallas Cowb...

OCTOBER 20, 2020 • RAISINGZONA.COM

Arizona Cardinals' Budda Baker gets first career interception as defense steamrolls Dallas Still in a cast, Cardinals safety Budda Baker said there were some minor adjustments, though nothing insurmountable.

OCTOBER 20, 2020 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Elliott fumbles pair, Cowboys stumble in 38-10 loss to Cards

If the Dallas Cowboys are going to win without Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott will have to hang on to the ball

OCTOBER 20, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Budda Baker takes flight for incredible diving INT Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker intercepts a pass from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton.

OCTOBER 20, 2020 • NFL.COM

Budda Baker strikes for Arizona Cardinals It was all Arizona in Texas on “Monday Night Football.” The final indignity came when Budda Baker picked off Andy Dalton in the fourth quart...

OCTOBER 20, 2020 • USATODAY.COM

Budda Baker blows up Andy Dalton on the blitz for thunderous sack Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton.

OCTOBER 20, 2020 • NFL.COM

Picks up first sack of 2020 Baker registered a team-high 10 tackles, including one sack, during Sunday's 30-10 win against the Jets.

Impact The two-time Pro Bowler has collected a tackle for loss in consecutive appearances Weeks 3 and 5, with a missed game in between because of surgery to repair a UCL tear to his thumb. With Baker back in the lineup against the struggling Jets on Sunday, Arizona allowed a season low in points (10). Now having proven he can field a full defensive workload with no issue, the versatile safety is expected to be in the starting lineup once against during a Week 6 Monday night showdown against the Andy Dalton-led Cowboys.

OCTOBER 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals return to winning, but Jones injury looms large

The Arizona Cardinals won a football game on Sunday but might have lost All-Pro linebacker Chandler Jones for an extended amount of time because of a biceps injury

OCTOBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Murray runs for TD, throws another, Cardinals rip 0-5 Jets

The Arizona Cardinals came to MetLife Stadium and like every other team this season found a cure-all for their woes

OCTOBER 11, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Budda Baker Adapting To Cast On Thumb Notes: Devon Kennard won't play against Jets; No worries about MetLife Stadium field

OCTOBER 9, 2020 • AZCARDINALS.COM

Murray, Cardinals look to snap mini-skid against 0-4 Jets

Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals want to feel the way they did a few weeks ago

OCTOBER 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Full speed ahead Baker (thumb) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Impact It looks like Baker will return to the lineup after missing just one game following surgery to repair a UCL tear in his thumb. The 2017 second-rounder should immediately start and handle a full workload Sunday against the Jets. Through three games, Baker recorded 28 tackles (22 solo) and a pass breakup.

OCTOBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Budda Baker Expected To Return Against Jets Cardinals defense struggled last week without Pro Bowl safety

OCTOBER 7, 2020 • AZCARDINALS.COM

Looking at Week 5 return Coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday that Baker (thumb) will return against the Jets on Sunday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Baker missed Week 4's loss to the Panthers after undergoing surgery to address a UCL tear in his thumb, but it looks as though he's already ready to make a quick return. The starting safety could have to play with a cast or splint on his thumb.

OCTOBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals humbled but not hopeless after 2 straight losses

All that optimism surrounding the Arizona Cardinals following two straight wins to start the season has evaporated in a hurry

OCTOBER 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Game Pass Film Session: How watching rugby helped Budda Baker as a tackler On this clip from

OCTOBER 5, 2020 • NFL.COM

Officially out Baker (thumb) has been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Panthers, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Impact Baker underwent surgery to address a UCL tear in his thumb earlier in the week, so this news is not too surprising. While the team has not given a specific time table for his return, he is expected to be back sooner than later. With Chris Banjo (hamstring) also sidelined, some combination of Curtis Riley, Deionte Thompson and Charles Washington will presumably take on the secondary responsibilities.

OCTOBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Kingsbury, Rhule renew friendly rivalry at the NFL level

Matt Rhule and Kliff Kingsbury are set to match coaching strategies again — only this time at the NFL level when the Carolina Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday

OCTOBER 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Goes under knife Baker (thumb) has undergone surgery to address a UCL tear in his thumb, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Impact Coach Kliff Kingsbury declined to give a specific timetable for Baker's recovery, but he did say that he hopes the star safety will return "sooner rather than later." Nonetheless, Baker is trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's contest in Carolina. He may be able to avoid a long stint on the sideline if he's able to play with a cast or splint on his thumb.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Will undergo surgery soon Coach Kliff Kingsbury said after Sunday's loss to the Lions that Baker (thumb) will have a "procedure here very soon," Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Impact Baker played through a UCL tear in his thumb in Sunday's loss to Detroit, during which he notched a team-high eight tackles (all solo) in addition to one defended pass. The All-Pro safety looks likely to miss Week 4 at Carolina due to the surgery he'll soon undergo, with Deionte Thompson being a candidate to handle increased snaps as long as Baker is sidelined.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Lions snap 11-game losing streak, beat Cardinals 26-23

Matt Prater made 39-yard field goal as time expired, Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Detroit Lions snapped an 11-game losing streak dating to last season by bea...

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Budda Baker Active Against Lions, But Reportedly Surgery Coming Cardinals make Benjamin inactive again as fellow rookie Ward active

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • AZCARDINALS.COM

Report: Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker to have thumb surgery following Lions' game Team hopes Baker will only miss one game after surgery to repair ligament.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Playing Sunday, likely out Week 4 Baker, who doesn't carry a designation into Sunday's game against the Lions, is playing through a UCL tear in his thumb and plans to undergo surgery next week, Ian Rapoport of NFL...

Impact The All-Pro safety has been a premier IDP over the past two seasons, compiling at least 100 stops in both 2018 and 2019 and totaling 2.5 sacks, seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles between the two years. He's off to another strong start to 2020 with 20 tackles in two games, but Baker's fantasy managers should prepare to be without his services following the game against the Detroit. According to Rapoport, Baker is undergoing a procedure similar to the one that sidelined the Saints' Drew Brees for five games in 2019. As a non-skill position player, Baker should be able to play with a cast or splint on the thumb and won't require as long of an absence as Brees, but the Cardinals expect on the 24-year-old missing the Week 4 game in Carolina before returning to action Week 5 against the Jets.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE