A knee injury suffered during the Rams’ divisional round loss took Braden Fiske out of that contest. He required surgery to address the issue, but head coach Sean McVay noted in February missed time in the 2025 regular season was not a concern. 
Not only has that proven to be the case, a return to action well in advance of training camp has taken place. Fiske has been present for OTAs and has been able to take part in individual drills. The second-year defensive tackle’s recovery no doubt represents a welcomed recovery for the team given his importance.
“I’m feeling great right now,” Fiske said (via the team’s website). “Everything went as planned. We’re even ahead of the process now [compared to] where I thought I was going to be. I’m full go right now, moving… doing everything and feeling great.”
Fiske made three consecutive starts to begin his NFL career, although his playing time dropped for a stretch after that. By the end of the campaign, though, he was once again a mainstay along the Rams’ defensive front. The 25-year-old wound up leading the team in sacks with 8.5. That production helped make him a finalist for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, a honor which went to teammate Jared Verse.
Those two are set to remain key figures for Los Angeles’ defense in 2025 and for many years beyond that. Fiske in particular will be tasked with building off his strong rookie season and in doing so helping to fill the void created by Aaron Donald‘s retirement. Kobie Turner – selected in the third round of the 2023 draft – has enjoyed a strong start to his career, and he and Fiske could prove to be a highly effective tandem along the defensive interior for years to come. With time remaining on both of their rookie contracts, the Fiske-Turner partnership is also a cost-effective one for the time being.
The Rams’ youth movement on defense produced surprisingly strong results in 2024, and the unit was key in getting Los Angeles to the second round of the playoffs. A repeat of that success could very well be in store this season, and Fiske will be counted on to operate as an impactful presence along the D-line. Barring any setbacks this summer, he will do so with a clean bill of health.