It was a tale of two halves as the Washington Commanders faced the San Francisco 49ers in their first primetime game of the season. Washington couldn’t get anything going in the first half, but quarterback Jayden Daniels found the passing game in the second half, giving Washington a chance to win.

The Commanders ultimately lost to the 49ers after Daniels was sacked on the final play. But the defense played a huge role in keeping Washington in the game, holding San Francisco to just three points in the second half. While many players had strong performances in the second half for the Commanders, rookie linebacker Sonny Styles is the player of the game.

Washington drafted Sonny Styles No. 7 overall in April, and he has brought a new mentality to the defense in just a few months. Through the first five games, he was tied for second on the team in total tackles with 33. He was also tied for first on the Commanders in tackles for loss with three.

In this game, Styles led Washington with 13 tackles, marking his second straight game with double-digit tackles. He also had seven solo tackles, his career-high thus far. Styles also defended a pass, his fourth of the season. 

Watching this game, it felt like Styles was everywhere for the Commanders’ defense, even if he didn’t always get the tackle. It is hard to find many rookies in the NFL playing better than him right now, and he will be a key part of Washington’s defense for years to come.

Washington will play its next game against the Philadelphia Eagles, who Styles recorded his first career sack against in the season opener.