A year after the Los Angeles Rams made headlines by selecting edge rusher Jared Verse in the first round and reuniting him with his Florida State teammate Braden Fiske in the second, both players have quickly validated that decision — and then some.
Verse has emerged as one of the most dominant young pass rushers in the NFL, while Fiske has proven to be the perfect complement, forming one of the league’s most disruptive rookie duos.
Both players were named finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, a rare feat for teammates. While Verse garnered more headlines, Fiske carved out a stellar debut season of his own, recording 44 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2024. He was a force throughout the year, until a knee injury during the Divisional Round loss to the Eagles forced him to exit and later undergo surgery.
Los Angeles Rams’ Braden Fiske Talks Injury Decisions During Intense Playoff Game
In the Rams’ “Behind the Grind” video series, Fiske reflected on the moment and the tough decision to step away mid-game.
“When you’re in the middle of the game, you’re on the sideline, the last thing you’re thinking about is pulling yourself out. The cardinal rule of football is you don’t want to take yourself off the field. Those are the tough conversations you have with your staff and coaches, of, Hey, am I going to benefit the team by being out there playing like this?
I would try to loosen up more, and I get going, slowly feel a little bit better, but then this isn’t going to benefit the team. So the best thing to do is to shut it down. I mean, it was rough; you never think about getting injured in the middle of the game.
I think of the moment it kind of happens, and obviously, it’s not the way you want it to go, but at the end of the day, it makes this process even sweeter. What I’m going through now, going into next season, will be a lot better. Mentally, I’m in a really good spot.”
His return — alongside Verse and a rising Rams defense — is a major reason why L.A. is gaining traction as a legitimate NFC contender, hoping to close the gap on teams like the Eagles.
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