Sonny Styles didn’t need a box score to tell him how his NFL debut went. The Washington Commanders rookie linebacker finished last week’s 24-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with four tackles, two for loss, one sack and a quarterback hit, but he came away focused on the plays he left on the field.
That’s the kind of edge Washington had to like from the No. 7 overall pick, even after a game that featured one of the more eye-catching individual moments from Week 1. Styles powered through Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and brought down Jalen Hurts on the sack that had people talking, and Barkley himself admitted it was a terrific play.
Still, Styles’ own assessment landed on the negative side.
“Missed tackle, the play I thought was a false start, gotta keep playing through the whistle, and there was no whistle blown; give up a touchdown," Styles said on Friday, describing Philadelphia's decisive touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“I had another [run] fit I kind of messed up. A few drops I thought I could’ve got to the ball a little quicker. And then being a linebacker leaving the game with four tackles is unacceptable.”
That’s a harsh self-review for a player who clearly made an impact, but it also says plenty about how he sees his job. The Commanders were encouraged by what they saw in his debut, and Styles’ response showed the accountability Washington wants from him. The sack will get attention, but he’s already onto the next thing he thinks he needs to clean up.
Next up for Styles and the Commanders is a chance to avoid an 0-2 start when they visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.
In Other News...
Tom Brady Added To The Misery Of Washingtons Ugly Afternoon
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Jayden Daniels Injury Scare Just Changed Everything For Washington
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Marcus Mariota took over for the second half after Daniels was carted off, leaving Washington to regroup around a different quarterback and an uncertain outlook. For a team already trying to establish its identity early in the season, the injury adds another layer of anxiety, and the immediate focus now shifts from the scoreboard to the quarterbacks status moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Injury Suddenly Overshadows Another Brutal Commanders Loss
Dallas left Sunday with plenty to celebrate, and Washington left with the same sour feeling it has carried through too many recent afternoons. Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes and set the Cowboys franchise record for career touchdown passes with his 249th, while the Commanders were again forced to absorb a lopsided loss, 37-20, that only deepened the frustration around the season.
Jayden Daniels left elbow injury quickly became the bigger concern for Washington, because the scoreboard was already out of hand by the time his day took a troubling turn. Several other Commanders also exited with injuries, turning an already brutal defeat into a far more worrisome afternoon as the team waits to learn how much more it might lose beyond the game itself. [Read more 🡒]