Yodny Cajuste

BIOGRAPHY

Yodny Cajuste, born on February 21, 1996, is a professional American football player known for his towering presence as an offensive tackle. His career has been an incredible roller coaster ride of trials, triumphs, setbacks, and comebacks, reminiscent of the sport’s unpredictable nature itself.

Yodny’s journey began in vibrant fashion, with the fertile football fields of West Virginia University providing the perfect breeding ground for his talents. Cajuste played college football for the Mountaineers, having redshirted at the outset in 2014. His time at West Virginia, however, was marked with challenges as he got his bearings in the sport.

The 2015 season saw Cajuste playing six games as a starter before suffering a debilitating injury against Baylor. It was a setback, but one that did not dampen his spirits. Cajuste fought his way back, returning by the season’s end when the Mountaineers triumphed gloriously in the Cactus Bowl.

In 2016, the highs from the previous season were marred by a brutal season-ending injury during the first game against Missouri. Yet, Yodny returned in 2017 more resiliently than ever. Over the course of the season, he not only started 13 games for the Mountaineers but also earned the notable accolade of All-Big 12 Conference Second Team honors.

Yodny’s final season with West Virginia in 2018 was an electrifying show of his burgeoning talents. It was a year of multiple accolades that began to establish him as one to watch for in American football: he was recognized as All-Big 12 Conference First Team and the Big 12 Conference Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was also named to the Second Team by the Football Writers Association of America and Phil Steele All-America, coupled with a Fourth Team honor from Athlon Sports All-America.

After his momentous college career, Yodny plunged into the National Football League (NFL) in 2019 when he was drafted in the third round by the renowned New England Patriots. Starting the season was tough owing to a quad surgery which landed him on the non-football injury list.

Navigating through tribulations became second nature for Cajuste as, on September 10, 2020, he found himself on injured reserve following a knee injury. However, his determination allowed him to enter the 2021 season as a backup tackle for the Patriots. This culminated in him making his first career starts in Weeks 5 and 6 at right tackle.

Unfortunately, the following year, he suffered a thumb injury and was placed on injured reserve on October 1, 2022, only to be activated at the end of the month. Cajuste’s time with the Patriots came to an end on May 18, 2023, when he was waived. He quickly rebounded by signing with the New York Jets on May 30, 2023. It was a short-lived stint as he was waived/injured on August 8, 2023. After going unclaimed, he reverted to the team’s injured reserve list but was released a week later.

His journey took him next to the New York Giants on October 11, 2023, as part of the practice squad. Proving his grit once more, Cajuste saw the 2023 regular season out and was signed to a reserve/future contract with the Giants on January 8, 2024. Despite being placed on injured reserve on August 20, 2024, and released a few weeks later, Cajuste’s journey in professional football remains an impressive testament to his resilience and determination. Yodny Cajuste persists as a free agent, a seasoned player prepared to tackle the twists and turns of the sport head on.