Craig Russell Yeast II (born May 8, 1999) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

safety Safety is the state of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings The word 'safety' entered the English language in the 1 ...

for the

Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He has previously played in the

(NFL) for the

Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West ...

and

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...

. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Louisville Cardinals The Louisville Cardinals (also known as the Cards) are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. The Cardinals teams play in the Atlantic Coast Conference, beginning in the 2014 season. While playing in the Big East Co ...

and

Kansas State Wildcats The Kansas State Wildcats (variously "Kansas State", "K-State", or "KSU") are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Kansas State University. The School colors, official color of the teams is Royal Purple; white and silver are gener ...

College career

Yeast played

at Louisville from 2017 to 2020 before transferring to Kansas State for the 2021 season.

Professional career

Los Angeles Rams

Yeast was selected by the

in the seventh round, 253rd overall, in the

2022 NFL draft The 2022 NFL draft was the 87th edition of the National Football League's annual NFL draft, draft and was held from April 28–30, 2022, at the Caesars Forum on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, Paradise next to Las Vegas. The first round ...

. He played largely on special teams during his rookie season with the Rams. He earned an increased role on defense in the final month, and he made his first NFL start in the Rams' season finale against the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The club entered the NFL a ...

on January 8, 2023. Yeast left that game early with a

pulmonary contusion A pulmonary contusion, also known as a lung contusion, is a bruise of the lung, caused by chest trauma. As a result of damage to capillaries, blood and other fluids accumulate in the lung tissue. The excess fluid interferes with gas exchange, ...

that kept him in a hospital overnight in Seattle. After the offseason departures of Rams safeties

Taylor Rapp Taylor Michael Rapp (born December 22, 1997) is an American professional football safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies, and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams ...

and Nick Scott, Yeast became the Rams' starting free safety during

training camp A training camp is an organized period in which military personnel or athletes participate in a rigorous and focused schedule of training in order to learn or improve skills. Athletes typically utilise training camps to prepare for upcoming events ...

in 2023. He lost his starting job by midseason, being replaced by veteran John Johnson. After fighting for a roster spot in 2024, he made the final roster as a backup, but was waived on September 14, 2024.

Carolina Panthers

On September 18, 2024, Yeast was signed to the

practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster a week later. He was released on October 8 and re-signed to the practice squad two days later. He was promoted back to the active roster on October 26, but released two days later.

Arizona Cardinals

On November 6, 2024, Yeast was signed to the

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...

' practice squad. He was released by the Cardinals on November 11.

Houston Texans

On November 27, 2024, Yeast was signed to the

' practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 21, 2025.

Personal life

Yeast's father, Craig, was a star receiver at the

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical ...

before playing professionally in the NFL and the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

. Yeast's mother, Tori Tillman Yeast, played basketball at Kentucky. His sister, Kiyah, is a sprinter on the

Louisville Louisville is the most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeast, and the 27th-most-populous city in the United States. By land area, it is the country's 24th-largest city; however, by populatio ...

track team.

References

External links

Houston Texans bio

Louisville Cardinals bio

Kansas State Wildcats bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yeast, Russ Living people 1999 births Players of American football from Kentucky American football safeties Louisville Cardinals football players Kansas State Wildcats football players Los Angeles Rams players People from Danville, Kentucky Carolina Panthers players Arizona Cardinals players Houston Texans players 21st-century American sportsmen