Sonny Styles leads Washington Commanders defense in upset over Seahawks

Washington Commanders rookie linebacker Sonny Styles has emerged as a key defensive leader following a breakout performance in a 33-31 upset victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The former Ohio State player, selected seventh overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, recorded two turnovers that contributed to the win.

Despite the successful outing, Styles expressed a desire for further improvement, telling reporters, “I’m not anywhere near where I want to be.”

In addition to his physical play, Styles has taken on significant responsibilities within the defensive scheme. With Frankie Luvu sidelined, head coach Dan Quinn has tasked the rookie with acting as the primary on-field play-caller. Wearing the ‘green dot’ helmet, Styles receives defensive instructions from coordinator Daronte Jones and communicates them to the rest of the unit to ensure proper alignment before each snap.