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Four-time Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker was involved in one of the scariest injuries we’ve seen on a football field in some time Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams.
Late in the third quarter, Baker was hit by Rams running back Cam Akers near the goal line. The former second-round pick from Washington was then seen immobilized on the turf at SoFi Stadium before being stretchered off the field and sent to the hospital.
Baker did show movement in his extremities as he exited the field, but was ruled out for the remainder of the came with a concussion.
After getting further tests at the hospital, Budda Baker posted this message to his Instagram account — announcing that the tests came out clean and telling fans he’ll make a full recovery. He was released from the hospital earlier Tuesday morning, too.
“Thank you for all the well wishes and the prayers from everyone,” Baker said in the video. “I appreciate you guys. Everything came out clean. I’m going to make a full recovery, so definitely blessed. I’m excited to get out of this hospital and get back to Arizona. I haven’t been able to shower, I stink still, and just ready to get back home and be with my family. Love you guys, appreciate all y’all always sending love.”
That’s about the best news we can hope for. It’s definitely going to take some work for Baker to get back on the field after his Cardinals were eliminated by the Rams in blowout fashion in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs Monday night. But it appears he’s ready to go and looking forward to the 2022 season.
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Budda Baker and his importance to the Arizona Cardinals
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Since entering the league as the 36th pick of the Cardinals during the 2017 NFL Draft, Baker has morphed from special teams standout to one of the best safeties in the NFL.
After failing to record an interception in each of his first three seasons, Baker has accumulated five in the past two years alone. That span has also seen him record north of 220 tackles (13 for loss) and 13 passes defended.
His ability to both rush the passer and play coverage down the field has been a major factor in the Cardinals’ ascension from mid-tier pretender to a playoff team over the years.