Ex-Husky Baker Taken from NFL Playoff Game on Stretcher, But Cardinals Say He's OK
Budda Baker gave America a big scare when the Arizona Cardinals safety tackled the Los Angeles Rams' Cam Akers, didn't get up and had to be removed from the field on a stretcher.
In the first NFL playoff game held on a Monday night, the former University of Washington standout collided with Akers helmet to helmet on the Cardinals 5 near the end of the third quarter and he was left flat on his back as a hush descended over SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
With players from both teams milling all round him, Baker later flashed a thumbs-up gesture to everyone as medical personnel placed him on a stretcher and took him away to a waiting emergency vehicle.
The Cardinals later tweeted out that Baker, a fifth-year pro originally from Bellevue, Washington, had full movement in all of his extremities and was being checked for a concussion, the news coming before the postseason game ended with the Rams winning 34-11 and advancing to the next playoff round.
Baker, the emotional leader of the Cardinals' defense, went down with a minute and a half remaining in the third quarter after Akers broke free for an 11-yard gain and the defensive back made the tackle leading with his helmet.
Apparently unaware that Baker was injured, Akers made a taunting move as he stepped over the fallen player, an action that brought members from both teams together in a hot-tempered instant.
The players were separated and quickly put any disagreement aside when they realized Baker was injured.
An All-Pro selection, Baker was making his first postseason appearance for the Cardinals in a game that quickly got out of a hand.
Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Husky Maven stories as soon as they’re published.
Not all stories are posted on the fan sites.
Find Husky Maven on Facebook by searching: Husky Maven/Sports Illustrated
Follow Dan Raley of Husky Maven on Twitter: @DanRaley1 and @HuskyMaven