Report: Cardinals' Budda Baker to Return from Hamstring Injury amid Trade Rumors

Budda Baker is officially back.

The Arizona Cardinals safety has been activated off injured reserve and will return to the lineup on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks after recovering from a hamstring injury, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Baker injured his hamstring before a Week 2 matchup against the New York Giants and was placed on injured reserve, missing the team's last five games.

In Arizona's Week 1 loss to the Washington Commanders, he played every defensive snap, posting five tackles.

"It's something definitely I wanted to get back for and be ready to play," Baker told reporters this week of potentially returning to the lineup against Seattle. "Right now, I'm just taking it day by day and seeing how everything holds up."

Baker, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, has been a staple in the Arizona defense since being selected by the franchise in the second round of the 2017 draft out of Washington.

Prior to this year, the 27-year-old had never missed more than two games in a season. He's coming off a Pro Bowl 2022 campaign in which he posted two interceptions, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, 75 tackles, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits in 15 games.

"He's one of the best I've been around in a short period of time," Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said of Baker this week. "I've really been in awe of him and how he goes about his day. The way he can bring his teammates along with him and elevate their game. As far as the leadership goes and how you can do that as a player, that's really a special quality."

While Baker is a key figure in Arizona's defense, he reportedly requested a trade this offseason. He asked the team to make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL on a new contract or trade him.

Baker has a cap hit worth $17.9 million this season and he's due to become a free agent after the 2024 campaign. It's unclear where the Cardinals stand on either giving him a new deal or moving him ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline.

Arizona is fourth in the NFC West with a 1-5 record and will likely miss the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.