DeAndre Hopkins, Whether Pro Bowl Or Practice, 'My Play Speaks For Itself'

[Big Red]

BUDDA'S IMPORTANT CALL​

Safety Budda Baker, like all the Cardinals' Pro Bowlers, got the news through a call from owner Michael Bidwill. Unfortunately, Baker was in the shower when Bidwill originally called.


"I looked at my phone and saw Michael Bidwill had called and I was like, 'Man, what did I do?' " Baker said. " 'I know I didn't do anything, I hope I don't have COVID, I don't know why he's (calling.)' He tells me (the Pro Bowl info), so it was definitely something like a ‘woosah’ moment."


Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Baker still has room to improve as a safety, impressive considering Baker has yet to turn 25 and already has made two Pro Bowls at the position (and a third for special teams.)


Baker said on the field over the past six weeks or so, "it's been a lot of '32, 32. 32's the Mike, watch 32.' " Baker's uniform number is 32.


"I would definitely say a lot of teams are gameplanning me," Baker said.

EIGHT SIT OUT PRACTICE​

The Cardinals had a bunch of players not practice Wednesday: Hopkins (non-injury related), wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (groin), running back Chase Edmonds (ankle/knee), tight end Darrell Daniels (hamstring), cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (hamstring/calf), tight end Maxx Williams (ankle), center Mason Cole (non-injury related), and linebacker Dennis Gardeck (knee).


While coach Kliff Kingsbury indicated earlier this week Gardeck would be a game-day decision, Joseph sounded more pessimistic when talking about Gardeck's excellent play, saying, "We're going to miss Dennis. For sure."


Limited for the Cardinals were linebacker Haason Reddick (shoulder), nose tackle Domata Peko (non-injury related), linebacker Kylie Fitts (hamstring), guard Justin Pugh (calf) and safety Jalen Thompson (ankle).


For the 49ers, defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (knee), running back Raheem Mostert (ankle), quarterback Nick Mullens (elbow), cornerback Richard Sherman (calf), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and safety Jimmie Ward (concussion) didn't practice. Limited were defensive end Dion Jordan (knee), safety Tarvarius Moore (knee), center Hroniss Grasu (knee) and wide receiver Richie James (ankle).

PRACTICE SQUAD WIDE RECEIVERS ADDED​

The Cardinals signed a pair of practice squad receivers Wednesday, adding Krishawn Hogan and Isaac Whitney. Whitney was on the Buccaneers' practice squad earlier this week. Hogan is a familiar face, having signed with the Cards as an undrafted rookie in 2017. He has been with the Colts after the Cards let him go.

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