Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker sidelined by high ankle sprain, per report

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is out because of a high ankle sprain, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The hope is Baker could return in Week 11 or 12 before the team’s bye in Week 13.

Baker leads the team in solo tackles (46), assisted tackles (25) and total tackles (71). He also has one tackle for loss, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.

This will be the first time Baker has missed a game since Week 4 of 2020. He had been on a streak of playing in 38 straight regular season games and 59 of his last 60 regular season contests, dating back to November 2018.

Baker, 26, has made three straight Pro Bowls as a safety after getting his first nod as a rookie in 2017 on special teams. He was a First Team All-Pro safety in 2020.

The Cardinals signed Baker to a four-year extension worth up to $59 million back in August 2020, a deal that runs through 2024.

Arizona’s depth behind Baker consists of Chris Banjo, who joins Jalen Thompson and Baker as the only three safeties on the team. Baker, of course, is a unique weapon in the Cardinals defense that lines up all over the field across four quarters.

The schedule for the Cardinals the next three weeks consists of the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers.

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