Although the competition is intense every day among the four talented young pass rushers on the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive line, this week was something different.
Defensive tackle Braden Fiske won the NFL’s defensive rookie of the month award on Thursday—but he had to share the spotlight with nose tackle Kobie Turner, who was revealed Wednesday night as one of the final four costumed performers on The Masked Singer, Fox’s celebrity singing competition show.
Fiske, Turner, and edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young motivate and challenge each other as they form the new core of the Rams’ defense. They regularly compare everything from their sack totals (the group has combined for 21 1/2 sacks this season) to their basketball skills, always trying to outdo each other while having fun.
But when Turner took off his mask on TV after being eliminated from the show, his teammates knew he had won this round.
“It really caught me by surprise,” Fiske said, laughing. “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.
I know it was pretty special to him and his family with how his upbringing was with music and how much he appreciates that. I’m glad to see he had that opportunity. That’s definitely not my forte, to be out there singing in front of people.”
Fiske also received congratulations for his own performance, after a five-sack November in which the second-round draft pick established himself alongside Turner as two of the best young interior pass rushers in the league. Fiske is the third member of the Rams’ young group to earn the defensive rookie of the month honor in the past two years, following Verse (September 2024) and Turner (December 2023).
Meanwhile, Turner amazed a different part of the entertainment world with his strong voice.
The second-year player has shared his musical talent at various events, including singing the national anthem before Lakers and Kings games. After each sack, Turner conducts an imaginary orchestra as part of his signature celebration.
He balanced choral classes and weightlifting throughout high school and college, keeping both passions alive. But singing and dancing in the heavy costumes on The Masked Singer was an entirely new challenge.
“To be up under that mask and be the silly, goofy version of myself that I always have been wasn’t something I was really expecting,” Turner said, adding that he fell asleep onstage during one break while wearing his costume, which was extra bulky due to his athletic strength.
Turner said his marketing agent got him on the show. He filmed his first episode during the Rams’ organized team activities last summer, but he had to keep his participation a secret until this week.
“Once the recording was done, it was like, ‘OK, let’s get back to ball,’” Turner said. “And then when the show started coming on (this fall), I got really excited.”
Turner admitted he was “frustrated” not to make it to the show’s finale, saying he still has a competitive spirit even in his musical side. However, he makes sure to enjoy himself.
“Sometimes there are expectations on how you handle yourself on a football field, and with my personality, I’ve pushed those limits,” Turner said. “Last year, AD (Aaron Donald) used to always pick on me about doing crazy dance moves in walkthrough. But when it’s time to go, I was completely locked in.”
