The Los Angeles Rams concluded a challenging season by falling 19-16 to the Seattle Seahawks in overtime to finish 5-12 on the year. It marks the worst record by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history.
With several contributors already out, the Rams lost another player as rookie safety Russ Yeast exited the matchup early due to what the team called a chest injury.
Yeast was considered questionable to return but he never made it back on the field. Head coach Sean McVay revealed after the game that the 23-year-old suffered a pulmonary contusion and was transported to a local hospital, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic:
Rookie safety Russ Yeast suffered a pulmonary contusion in Sunday’s game and stayed overnight at a hospital in Seattle. McVay said Yeast is stable and improving and was scheduled to travel back to Los Angeles on Monday. Defensive backs coaches Chris Shula and Jonathan Cooley stayed at the hospital with Yeast, and Ramsey went to see him after the game.
A pulmonary contusion is a bruise to the lung tissue that can cause the lungs to fill with blood and make breathing difficult. It is unclear when Yeast sustained the injury.
Given the recent scare with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, it is encouraging to hear Yeast is stable and that his condition has improved. It is also good to see several of Yeast’s coaches and teammates stay with him at the hospital as a show of support.
Yeast was making the first start of his NFL career against the Seahawks in place of the injured Nick Scott. Yeast recorded three tackles and one tackle for loss prior to leaving the game.
The Rams selected Yeast out of Kansas State in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared in 15 games and collected 20 tackles, making most of his contributions on special teams. With Scott set to hit free agency this offseason, Yeast could be in for a bigger role in 2023.
Jalen Ramsey posts cryptic tweet about Rams future
With McVay reportedly contemplating retirement and other players’ futures up in the air, Jalen Ramsey posted a cryptic message on Twitter that suggests he may have played his last down with the Rams.
Ramsey is under contract through the 2025 season, but trading him would be a way for the Rams to open up cap room in the short term in order to sign free agents or extend some of their younger players.
