All-Pro safety Budda Baker will return from thumb surgery this week, Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday.
Baker played in the Cardinals’ Week 3 loss to Detroit with his right thumb heavily bandaged, then missed Sunday’s loss to Carolina following an operation to repair a torn ligament earlier in the week.
Kingsbury said Baker will be on the field Sunday when the Cardinals (2-2) face the New York Jets (0-4) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
“Budda being back this week will definitely make us all feel better,” Kingsbury said, per ESPN. “I mean, he’s one of the best players in the league and brings a lot of things on and off the field to our locker room.”
A two-time Pro Bowl selection (2017, 2019) and a first-team All-Pro in 2017, Baker has recorded 28 tackles in three games this season. He had 15 in the season-opening win at San Francisco.
The 2017 second-round pick has 351 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 15 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 49 career games (39 starts).
