The Arizona Cardinals will get a big boost to the safety position this week. Pro Bowler Budda Baker, who missed Sunday’s game after having surgery to repair ligaments in his right thumb, is expected to be back on the field this weekend against the New York Jets.
“We feel good about Budda playing this week,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Wednesday morning.
The Cardinals released safety Curtis Riley on Tuesday, suggesting at least one of their injured safeties (Baker, Jalen Thompson, Chris Banjo) would return.
When Baker had his thumb surgery, the hope was that he would only miss one game. There will be precautions to take care of that hand.
“I know they’ll have some sort of apparatus on his hand to protect him,” Kingsbury said.
As for Thompson and Banjo, Kingsbury is unsure about their return.
“They’re still working through it,” he said. “Kind of a day-to-day situation for them.”
The return of Baker will be a big boost to the secondary, which struggled against the Carolina Panthers.
“Budda being back will definitely make us all feel better,” said Kingsbury.
It certainly will.
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