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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on against the Dallas Cowboys.
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Braden Fiske was one of three players to receive an unfortunate notice from the NFL that they had been fined due to misconduct in Week 13 against the Carolina Panthers.
The league dispensed justice on both sides.
Still, it is another blow after what was already a disappointing loss for Fiske and the Rams. LA struggled to stop the Panthers’ offense, and they were inconsistent offensively.
Branden Fiske Fined After Rams’ Loss to Panthers
GettyBraden Fiske #55 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on against the Seattle Seahawks.
Per the NFL’s Football Operations portal, Fiske received an $11,881 fine for “unnecessary roughness” over a “hip-drop tackle” on Panthers’ running back Rico Dowdle during the third quarter of the eventual 31-28 Rams loss.
The play went for 3 yards. The drive ended with a Panthers touchdown on a 33-yard pass from Bryce Young to Jalen Coker. No flag was thrown on Fiske during the contest.
However, Fiske’s tackle fit the league’s criteria.
According to Article 2 Section 18 of the NFL rulebook, “It is a foul if a player uses the following technique to bring a runner to the ground: (a) grabs the runner with one or both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and (b) unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and/or trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”
The penalty for such infractions is supposed to be 15 yards and an automatic first down. The Panthers scored anyway.
Braden Fiske Standing Out for Wrong Reasons
GettyBraden Fiske #55 of the Los Angeles Rams in action during the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fiske’s was the only fine on the Rams’ side from this game, and the most expensive of all. It marks the 10th fine levied against a Rams player this season, and their first since Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks, per Spotrac.
Fiske, 25, was the No. 39 overall pick of the 2024 draft.
After a 10.5-sack campaign during a rookie season that saw him garner attention for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Fiske has 2.0 sacks through 12 games in 2025.
Fiske remains an impactful player in other ways. Still, head coach Sean McVay, defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and the Rams could certainly use more splash plays and, specifically, sacks, as edge rushers Byron Young (10.0 sacks) and Jared Verse (6.0 sacks) lead the team.
Fiske has 25 total tackles and 3 stops for loss this season, adding 1 fumble recovery.
However, Fiske had 44 combined stops, 10 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 recovery for the Rams as a rookie in 2024. Getting back to being that disruptive will only help.
Panthers Duo Draw Fines After Rams Game
GettyKyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams during warm-ups before facing the Houston Texans.
In addition to Fiske, the league also announced that Panthers players Lathan Ransom and Thomas Incoom also received fines due to infractions committed during the Rams’ upset loss in Week 13.
Incoom received a $5,722 fine for “unnecessary roughness” for a “late hit” on Rams running back Ronnie Rivers. It occurred during the opening kickoff.
Incoom drew a flag during the contest for the infraction, costing his team 15 yards.
Ransom’s incident, a UR call for illegal “use of the helmet,” occurred during the second quarter. He tackled Rams RB Kyren Williams, engaging from a kneeling position and bringing the runner down. There was no flag on the play in-game. Ransom received a $5,996 fine nonetheless.
Combined, Incoom and Ransom’s fines totaled $11,718. That is $163 less than Fiske received for his infraction in the Rams’ loss.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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