Through seven weeks, Sonny Styles has done more than settle in as a rookie linebacker for Washington. He’s already put himself in the conversation as one of the NFL’s most impactful first-year players, and ESPN went as far as tying him for the league’s best rookie with New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese.
Styles’ calling card has been speed, and ESPN pointed to a few plays that have shown exactly why Washington valued him so highly. In the Commanders’ lone win, he stayed step for step with Seattle running back Jadarian Price to break up a deep pass.
Later in that same game, he tracked down tight end Eric Saubert at the goal line and forced a fumble, though Saubert recovered it for a touchdown. That outing also included Styles’ only interception of the season.
His first game in the league made an impression, too. Styles opened his rookie year by trucking Eagles running back Saquon Barkley on the way to sacking quarterback Jalen Hurts. More recently, he has stacked up 13 tackles over Washington’s past two games, a sign that his game is still climbing as the season goes on.
The production backs up the eye test. Styles leads Washington with 46 tackles and is tied for the second-most tackles for loss on the team. For a rookie, that kind of impact is hard to miss, and it makes the 2026 NFL Draft pick look even sharper now, especially with Daron Payne dealing with a foot injury.
Washington gets Philadelphia again on Sunday night, and the Commanders will see the same Eagles team they opened the season against. In that first meeting, Styles picked up his only sack of the year so far.
In Other News...
Commanders Got Burned By Another Late Call In A Huge Spot
A promising defensive stand turned into another frustrating sequence for Washington on Sunday night when cornerback Trey Amos appeared to come up with an interception, only for the play to be erased by a roughing-the-passer flag on linebacker KLavon Chaisson. Instead of flipping possession, the penalty kept Philadelphia on the field and let the Eagles continue the drive in a game where every late snap carried extra weight.
Chaisson did not hide from the moment afterward, acknowledging the penalty and voicing frustration with some of the officiating decisions throughout the night. For Washington, it was the kind of costly break that can linger well beyond one drive, especially when a defense thinks it has finally forced the turnover it needed. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Amos Is Giving Commanders Fans A Reason To Believe In This Secondary
Trey Amos has started to look like one of the more encouraging pieces in Washingtons young secondary. The 2025 second-round pick returned from injury in Week 6 and has quickly settled back in as a steady presence, flashing the kind of coverage skills the Commanders hoped to see when they drafted him. In Sunday nights win over Philadelphia, Amos was again part of a defensive effort that gave Washington fans a little more reason to trust what this back end might become.
The bigger takeaway is not just that Amos has been active around the ball, but that he has helped limit what opposing receivers can do when targeted. Multiple pass deflections and a knack for staying in phase have made him stand out during a stretch when the Commanders are looking for defensive stability to take hold. For a team trying to build something lasting on that side of the ball, Amos is already making the case that he can be part of the answer. [Read more 🡒]
Sonny Styles Is Already Rewarding Washingtons Biggest Draft Gamble
Seven games into his NFL career, Sonny Styles already looks like the kind of rookie linebacker Washington can build around. The Commanders have seen enough to feel good about their decision to make him a centerpiece of the defense, and the early returns have matched the buzz that followed him into the league. His athleticism, feel for the position and ability to affect plays have stood out enough that he is already drawing praise as more than just a promising young defender.
The latest reminder came in a prime-time setting against Philadelphia, where Styles once again showed why Washington was willing to make such a bold draft move. For a team trying to raise the ceiling of its defense, the encouraging part is not just what he has done so far, but how quickly he has started to look comfortable in a demanding role. The bigger question now is how far that growth can go, and how soon he can turn a hot start into something even more lasting. [Read more 🡒]