Bishard “Budda” Baker is an American football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He played college football for the Washington Huskies, and was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Budda Baker: Hit rams| Concussion| Collision| Is paralyzed
Hit rams:
Cardinals safety Budda Baker was placed on a stretcher and carted off the field after a hard collision with Rams running back Cam Akers in the third quarter of Monday night’s NFC wild-card playoff game.
Baker rushed in from the side at the end of an 11-yard run by Akers. Baker’s head connected with Akers’ shoulder as he tried to make the tackle. Baker wasn’t moving right after the hit as he rolled onto his back, but he eventually was able to move his arms as he was carted off the field.
“I appreciate you guys,” Baker said in the IG story. “Everything came out clean. I’m going to make a full recovery. [I’m] excited to get out of this hospital– back to Arizona… I’m just ready to get back home and be with my family.”
Concussion:
Baker was named second-team All-Pro in 2021 and voted to his fourth Pro Bowl. He appeared in all 17 games for Arizona and intercepted three passes, made 98 tackles, including six for loss, and had seven passes defensed.
Later on Tuesday, Baker was photographed on a private plane home to Arizona, confirming doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles had cleared him for release after overnight evaluation, imaging and testing.
Collision:
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is doing well after being carted off the field in a stretcher following a terrifying collision with Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers during Monday night’s NFC wild-card game.
Baker, 26, took to social media early Tuesday morning to give an update on his condition after he was ruled out of the game with a concussion.
Is paralyzed:
The four-time Pro Bowler was injured late in the third quarter when he attempted to tackle Ackers near the 5-yard line. He appeared to drop his head and collide with Akers shoulder.
As Baker lay on the ground, Akers walked past him and gestured to him to stay down unaware of the extent of his injury – a move that Cardinals players took issue with. But after the game he explained the hit wasn’t personal.
