Benwikere will step in for injured Baker
The Cardinals will be without their Swiss Army knife on Sunday when they meet the Raiders at State Farm Stadium. It’s a good thing they have a secondary multi-tool accessory in their back pocket.
Although do-everything safety Budda Baker is unavailable after sustaining a knee injury in last week’s loss to the Chiefs, the Cardinals believe they’re covered by asking starting cornerback Bene’ Benwikere to slide into Baker’s complicated role as the team’s super utility weapon.
Jamar Taylor will replace Benwikere at cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson.
Benwikere may not possess all of the play-making abilities of Baker, but he’s versatile like Baker and as such has played multiple positions for the Cardinals already this season. That’s not to say they wouldn’t rather have both players in the starting lineup against Oakland. Things can’t help but look and feel a little different without Baker being here, there and everywhere.
“Definitely, especially with what Budda brings,” Cardinals coach Steve Wilks said Friday. “But Bene’s been in this system before. He’s played nickel inside. He is versatile. He gives us a little flexibility at safety as well. So, I’m excited about him being in there. He made some plays this week in practice. He seems like he’s really up on the game plan, so we’ll see exactly what he can do in the game.”
Benwikere joined the Cardinals on a one-year deal in March after spending his first three NFL seasons with the Panthers and last year with the Cowboys. Cornerback may be his natural position, but he was asked to play multiple roles back in college at San Jose State and he’s done some of the same things for the Cardinals this season.
“I feel good about it. I’ve been kind of doing that all year,” Benwikere said. “I’ve played corner, played a couple snaps at nickel and I’ve played safety. So I think I have a good enough understanding of the scheme and what they want me to be able to do coming in so that there’s not a drop off.”
Benwikere said it can get a boring playing cornerback, especially when quarterbacks aren’t throwing his way.
“It keeps me focused playing different positions,” he said. “If I get into something and I’m locked into just corner and the ball never comes my way, I tend to kind of relax a little bit. So, me being able to focus on every position that I’m going to have to play allows me to stay on point.”
It’s a complicated role and Baker, the second-year pro, has handed it brilliantly. He ranks second on the team in tackles (76), second in tackles for loss (eight) and he’s registered two sacks, a fumble recovery and five tackles on special teams.
“We have to find a way to hold on until he gets back,” Peterson said. “Budda is a very, very special player for us. He does so much for us. He is our jack of all trades. You can blitz him. You can put him in coverage. You can have him play middle-field safety. Hell, I know one thing. The defense is not going to be accounting for about 10 tackles, because that’s about what he’s been averaging a game.”
It’s Baker’s athleticism and awareness, plus his speed and underrated strength that allows him to flourish in his multi-dimensional role with the Cardinals. He’s also a major reason why Wilks and defensive coordinator Al Holcomb have employed their five defensive-back zone scheme so frequently this season. Baker is like the power booster that adds synergy and fuel to the whole mix.
“Budda’s a special player. He wears a lot of hats in our defense, which is hard to replace,” Holcomb said. “But Bene’, he kind of fits into that role as well as far as being a multi-positional player. In fact, Bene’ really plays three positons when you look at it – corner, nickel and safety. So next man up.
“We’ve got to get the production out of the position, but I’m confident in Bene’s ability.”
So is Benwikere, even though knows he’s not Budda Baker.
“Oh man, he’s extremely good,” Benwikere said. “He’s tenacious. He’s tough. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He’s super smart to be able to move around and play all these positions and understand them and also understand the run fits and run gaps as well. He’s small compared to O-linemen and even running backs, but you wouldn’t know it.”
Injury update
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In addition to Baker, the Cardinals have also ruled wide receiver Chad Williams (ankle) out of Sunday’s game. Five players are listed as questionable and will be game-time decisions, according to Wilks. They are left tackle D.J. Humphries (knee), left guard Mike Iupati (back), defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (calf ), safety Rudy Ford (heel) and kicker Phil Dawson (hip).