The Washington Commanders have plenty to sort through with a 1-3-1 record, but talent isn’t the issue. And on the defensive side, Sonny Styles is starting to look like one of the few no-doubt hits.
Styles has flashed fast in his first five professional games, piling up 33 tackles, which ties him for second on the team. That kind of production tells the story: he’s been asked to do a little bit of everything, and he’s handled it well. He’s shown he can pressure the quarterback, help against the run, and hold up in coverage when the job calls for it.
His biggest stage so far came in Week 5 against the New York Giants, a 27-27 tie that left Washington with a sour feeling and kept the Commanders winless against NFC East opponents. Even in that frustrating result, Styles made his presence felt in a direct matchup with Arvell Reese, another rookie defender making his own case.
Styles finished with 13 total tackles, the highest total of his young career. Reese wasn’t far behind, tying for the Giants’ lead with nine tackles and adding a sack on Jayden Daniels. The rookie duel lived up to the billing, with both players showing why they’ve already entered the early Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation.
Styles’ best work came against the run, where he repeatedly helped shut down Giants attempts to move the ball on the ground. That fits Washington’s broader defensive profile, too. The Commanders are in the bottom third of the league in total rushing yards allowed, rushing yards per carry, earthbound touchdowns, and total rushing attempts, so opponents have been forced to think twice about testing them there.
The flip side has been a shaky pass defense, but that’s not on Styles. He’s become the kind of defender who can shift from one responsibility to the next without much drop-off, and that versatility is a big part of why he’s already standing out.
After the game, Styles and Reese shared a jersey swap and a brief exchange that captured the moment nicely. Reese told Styles, “Keep ballin’, baby.” Styles answered, “Love you too, bro.”
For a Washington team coming off a summer full of expectations and now facing a difficult stretch, Styles is the clearest long-term bright spot to emerge so far. He has looked every bit like a franchise piece in the making.
In Other News...
Commanders Head Into 49ers Test With One Costly Problem Up Front
The Commanders head into Monday Night Football against the 49ers still trying to steady themselves after the tie with the Giants, and the biggest concern is not hard to spot. Up front, injuries have forced Washington into a thinner lineup than it wanted, with Chris Paul stepping in on the offensive line while Laremy Tunsil remains out, leaving the unit shorthanded at a time when it needs to be at its cleanest.
Paul has been asked to carry more than the Commanders likely expected, and the results have been uneven enough to keep the issue front and center as the matchup with San Francisco approaches. With little proven depth available behind him, Washington does not have many easy answers if the line continues to wobble, which makes this a problem the team may have to manage rather than solve right away. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Cross Gives Commanders Defense A Needed Lift At The Right Time
Nick Cross is moving back into the Commanders defensive mix at a timely moment, with Dan Quinn saying the safety is expected to be fully available for the upcoming matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. After missing games because of an internal medical issue, Cross returned to full participation in practice, a step Washington needed after the defense had some trouble filling the void in his absence.
The timing matters even more with Monday night preparation ramping up and the 49ers next on the schedule. Crosss return should give the Commanders a steadier presence on the back end, and it comes after a stretch that included an overnight hospital stay following the Cowboys game, a reminder of just how much has gone into getting him back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Are Already Facing A Brutal Injury Toll This Early
Through the first five weeks of the 2026 season, Washington has already absorbed a level of injury attrition that few teams can match, and the damage shows up not just in missed games but in the broader value the roster has lost on the field. The league-wide analysis measures that impact in Total Points, a metric built from Expected Points Added, and it paints a rough early picture for a Commanders team that has had to navigate key absences before the schedule has even settled in.
What makes the situation sting is that the loss is not just about bodies, but about high-end talent disappearing from the lineup at the exact moments Washington needed stability. When a team is already near the top of the league in value lost and still has more projected damage ahead, it becomes more than a short-term setback. It turns into a season-defining problem, with the Commanders now forced to piece together answers while waiting to see how much more of the roster they can reasonably get back. [Read more 🡒]