As Braden Fiske navigates his rookie season in the NFL, the Michigan City graduate figured out that the same things that have always worked for him still work.
Show up every day, punch in on the time clock and get to work, the blue collar principles that have guided each step in his career.
“It’s the approach I’ve had to the game many years,” Fiske said. “It boils down to the same work ethic that got me to high school and got me to college and got me to the NFL has carried on. Something I’m proud of throughout my career, I’ve been able to be consistent on and off the field, how I work out, how I take care of my body. In college, you’ve got coaches staying on you. In the NFL, it’s up to you to go about your business. The time, the work I put in, it’s starting to pay dividends. I’ve been able to set myself apart.”
The wide-eyed newcomer of a few months ago has long since gained his professional legs, establishing himself as an every-down player at defensive tackle, sharing the team lead in sacks (six) as part of a young group that’s coming into own.
“The coaches have done a great job of putting me in position to go out and make plays,” Fiske said. “I wouldn’t say they let us be free, but it’s just putting us in good situations, just letting us play football. We’ve great a group of guys, two first-year guys (Fiske, Jared Verse), two second-year guys (Byron Young, Kobie Turner). We have lot of fun. One of best things is we enjoy what we do, we enjoy doing it together, growing up together. There’s a couple veterans sprinkled, but we’re pretty young, so there was a learning curve as far as working together as a unit, playing as one on the field, being on the same page, learning from each other.”
That showed early on as the Rams started 1-4, but the maturation of the young defense has contributed to a 5-2 stretch that’s gotten Los Angeles back to .500 and in the mix for a playoff spot.
“We were struggling pretty bad,” Fiske said. “Everybody was going out trying to make a big play. As the season’s gone on, we figured it out that it takes all of us, and things went a lot better. Now I’m in the conversation for Defensive Rookie of the Year, fighting for it with own teammate (Verse), which makes it all the more fun, competing with him every day. It’s the mentality I approach it with, don’t take it for granted, take it on a game-by-game basis and show up on Sunday.”
It’s been a rapid rise for Fiske, who spent the early weeks of training camp acclimating to NFL life.
“When I first got with the Rams, seeing Cooper Kupp, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, I was like, oh wow, these are guys I’ve been watching, I’ve been watching Stafford since like elementary school,” he said. “After you’re around for a while, you find out they’re normal guys who go about their business the same way. At first, you’re going against guys who’ve been around for a while. Each level, I remember the speed of the high school game was crazy, then the speed of the college game was insane. Now it’s the NFL, everybody’s a professional. The game was way faster, everybody on the field was talented. It took a little while.”
By coincidence, it was week five back close to home in Chicago in front of family and friends when Fiske was registered his first sack, tackling Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
“Playing against the team I’ve known growing up, that was cool,” Fiske said. “It was nice to be able to play there in October, when the weather’s nice. I enjoyed it. It was special. Week four, five, six, I started to get more comfortable. The game started to slow down, my confidence level grew. I started heating up, feeling good. Once I got that first big taste of success, it drove me. It made me hungry. I didn’t feel like there wasn’t a play I couldn’t make.”
Fiske had his first multi-sack game in week nine against Seattle.
“Back in training camp, I was making plays, it was going well, I’m thinking, I have a shot here,” he said. “I knew I was talented, that I could play at the next level. You put the hard work in, see where you need to grow. I’ve been fortunate to have been in good places where I was put in a good position to get better. You become a product of your environment. I’ve been able to learn from some great coaches, people who believe in me.”
Both defensive coordinator Chris Shula and head coach Sean McVay both praised the young defense’s development.
“It’s a lot of competition for who gets the sacks, but they’re very happy for each other,” Shula said. “I don’t see it as a selfish group at all. They’re so happy for each other. They love rushing together, and they’re just continuing to grow and get better and better every week.”
“I’ve seen steady improvement as they’ve gained experience,” McVay added. “These guys are fun to be around. They’re super-coachable. They’ve got an energy and an authenticity. They love to compete, and I think they’re getting a lot better.”
Outside of football, Fiske is adapting to life in Los Angeles as a kid from Michigan City who went to college in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Tallahassee, Florida.
“Not too bad,” he said. “You’ve got the L.A. traffic every day, but I can’t complain. (The weather) doesn’t even compare, sunny and 70s. The places I’ve been, it’s kind of nice to meet in the middle. I’m still a Midwest guy at heart. It’s a big deal for me, coming from Michigan City. I take a lot of pride in that.”
The Rams face Buffalo on Sunday and play three of their last four games against NFC West foes, so the opportunities are in front of them.
“You want to be playing your best ball in December,” Fiske said. “We’ve got to make the most of it. If you can just get to the dance, anything can happen.”
Fiske who was named the NFL Rookie of the Month for November, is on the Pro Bowl ballot. Fans can vote for him at 2025 Pro Bowl Games Vote | NFL.com.
– The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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