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Cardinals' Budda Baker Says He's 'Doing Good' After Suffering Concussion vs. Rams
January 18, 2022
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker provided a positive update after he suffered a scary injury during Monday night's NFC Wild Card Round game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Baker tweeted:
Baker later posted a video from the hospital saying he's going to make a full recovery:
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport"Everything came out clean. I'm gonna make a full recovery"<a href="https://twitter.com/buddabaker32?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@buddabaker32</a> with an update from the hospital 🙏 <a href="https://twitter.com/brgridiron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brgridiron</a> <a href="https://t.co/hW3tpW2rBi">pic.twitter.com/hW3tpW2rBi</a>
Baker was eventually released from the hospital Tuesday after being cleared by doctors, per the team:
Mark Dalton @CardsMarkDTuesday update on Budda Baker:<br> <br>Budda stayed overnight at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for continued evaluation, imaging and testing. <br><br>He was cleared by the physicians there, released this morning and is on his way back to Arizona. <a href="https://t.co/GIt1s8k24l">pic.twitter.com/GIt1s8k24l</a>
After colliding with Rams running back Cam Akers during the third quarter, Baker had to be stretchered off the field. According to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, Baker was diagnosed with a concussion and never lost feeling in or use of his extremities.
The Rams went on to defeat the Cardinals 34-11, advancing to the NFC Divisional Round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Akers said: "It was just a football play. It wasn't nothing personal. I've got the utmost respect for Budda and that team."
The 26-year-old Baker is widely regarded as one of the best safeties in football.
In his five-year career, he has been named a Pro Bowler in four seasons, and he is a two-time first-team All-Pro.
This season, Baker registered 98 tackles, a career-high three interceptions, seven passes defended and two sacks for a Cards team that went 11-6 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Baker was rewarded for his excellent play in 2020 when he signed a four-year, $59 million contract extension.
The Cardinals have Baker signed through 2023 with a club option for 2024, so the former University of Washington standout should be a key part of the Arizona defense for a long time to come.