The competition is fierce among the talented young pass rushers on the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive line, but this week was something special.
Defensive tackle Braden Fiske earned the NFL’s defensive rookie of the month award on Thursday, but he shared the spotlight with nose tackle Kobie Turner, who was revealed as one of the final four performers on The Masked Singer the night before.
Fiske, Turner, and fellow edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young form the core of the Rams’ defense, constantly motivating and challenging one another. They regularly compare their sack totals (the group has collectively earned 21.5 sacks this season) and even compete in basketball skills, always aiming to outdo one another while having fun.
However, when Turner removed his mask on the show after being eliminated, his teammates knew he’d won this round.
“It really caught me by surprise,” Fiske said with a laugh. “We saw it in the group chat last night, and it was all over social media. But knowing Kobie, knowing who he is, that’s pretty cool. It’s special to him and his family, especially with his musical background. I’m happy he had that opportunity. Singing in front of people, though, that’s not for me.”
Fiske also received recognition for his impressive performance in November, where he earned five sacks and solidified his place as one of the league’s top young interior pass rushers, alongside Turner. Fiske is the third Rams rookie in two years to win the defensive rookie of the month award, following Verse in September 2024 and Turner in December 2023.
Meanwhile, Turner amazed fans with his singing on The Masked Singer. Known for his musical talent, Turner has performed the national anthem at Lakers and Kings games and celebrates each sack with an imaginary orchestra. Throughout high school and college, he balanced his love for music with weightlifting, but singing and dancing in a bulky costume on the show was a new challenge.
“To be under that mask and be the goofy version of myself wasn’t what I expected,” Turner said. He even fell asleep on stage during a break, his costume being extra heavy due to his athletic build.
Turner’s agent got him onto the show, and he filmed his first episode during the Rams’ off-season activities last summer. He had to keep it a secret until this week.
“Once the recording was done, it was back to football,” Turner said. “But when the show started airing, I got really excited.”
Although he was “frustrated” not to make it to the finale, Turner embraces the experience and enjoys his competitive nature, even in music.
“People expect a certain way for you to handle yourself on the field,” Turner said. “With my personality, I’ve pushed those limits. Last year, Aaron Donald always teased me about my crazy dance moves during walkthroughs, but when it’s time to play, I’m fully focused.”
