diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube/_video.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube/_video.py
index 14582c5f98..7986a43ec4 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube/_video.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube/_video.py
@@ -3850,11 +3850,33 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
             player_responses, (..., 'microformat', 'playerMicroformatRenderer'),
             expected_type=dict)
 
+        # Fallbacks in case player responses are missing metadata
+        initial_sdcr = traverse_obj(initial_data, (
+            'engagementPanels', ..., 'engagementPanelSectionListRenderer',
+            'content', 'structuredDescriptionContentRenderer', {dict}, any))
+        initial_description = traverse_obj(initial_sdcr, (
+            'items', ..., 'expandableVideoDescriptionBodyRenderer',
+            'attributedDescriptionBodyText', 'content', {str}, any))
+        # videoDescriptionHeaderRenderer also has publishDate/channel/handle/ucid, but not needed
+        initial_vdhr = traverse_obj(initial_sdcr, (
+            'items', ..., 'videoDescriptionHeaderRenderer', {dict}, any)) or {}
+        initial_video_details_renderer = traverse_obj(initial_data, (
+            'playerOverlays', 'playerOverlayRenderer', 'videoDetails',
+            'playerOverlayVideoDetailsRenderer', {dict})) or {}
+        initial_title = (
+            self._get_text(initial_vdhr, 'title')
+            or self._get_text(initial_video_details_renderer, 'title'))
+
         translated_title = self._get_text(microformats, (..., 'title'))
         video_title = ((self._preferred_lang and translated_title)
                        or get_first(video_details, 'title')  # primary
                        or translated_title
                        or search_meta(['og:title', 'twitter:title', 'title']))
+        if not video_title and initial_title:
+            self.report_warning(
+                'No title found in player responses; falling back to title from initial data. '
+                'Other metadata may also be missing')
+            video_title = initial_title
         translated_description = self._get_text(microformats, (..., 'description'))
         original_description = get_first(video_details, 'shortDescription')
         video_description = (
@@ -3862,6 +3884,8 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
             # If original description is blank, it will be an empty string.
             # Do not prefer translated description in this case.
             or original_description if original_description is not None else translated_description)
+        if video_description is None:
+            video_description = initial_description
 
         multifeed_metadata_list = get_first(
             player_responses,