Sonny Styles must grow up quickly in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. The Washington Commanders' rookie linebacker won't have the veteran presence of Frankie Luvu to depend on, making him the alpha against one of the league's most prolific offenses.
It's a daunting task for his second NFL regular-season start. But if anyone can make the needed adjustments, it's Styles.
The Commanders believe in Styles. They were blown away by the player during their pre-draft assessments, and when he somehow found his way to No. 7 overall, general manager Adam Peters didn't hesitate.
Sonny Styles must lead Commanders' defense from the front without Frankie Luvu
After getting some extremely harsh criticism for his brief preseason involvement, Styles looked assured against the Philadelphia Eagles. He picked up his first NFL sack and was comfortable in coverage. He wasn't happy with registering just four tackles, but there were plenty of encouraging signs.
Having the stable presence of Luvu alongside him helped enormously. But when the second-team All-Pro was forced off the field with a groin issue, everything looked a little shakier.
This was more about pre-snap communication than anything else.
Leo Chenal was also playing his first regular-season game for the club, and the familiarity Luvu brings was missed. But with another week to tighten up, things should improve at AT&T Stadium.
They'll need to.
The Cowboys' offense may not have hit the ground running in their Sunday Night Football loss to the New York Giants, but they have too much quality to stay quiet for long. And in their home opener, looking to avoid starting the season 0-2, they will be highly motivated to give the Commanders headaches.
Sonny Styles must show maturity beyond his years against the Cowboys
That makes Styles' role even more integral.
He'll likely be the green dot on defense. Styles has to get everyone in the right position at all times while also worrying about his own responsibilities. It's a lot to ask, but this is precisely why the Commanders had so much faith in the player.
Styles' physical and athletic gifts spoke for themselves. What tipped the scales was his leadership, ability to read offenses, and a willingness to be the guy everyone looks to for organization and inspiration.
That's come sooner than expected, but that doesn't mean Styles isn't ready.
He's built for this.
Not having Luvu is a blow. He's the driving force in the middle of Washington's defense, providing inspirational motivation and exceptional instincts that will be hard to replace. But in Styles, the Commanders already have the natural successor in place.
And if he can rally himself and others to better defensive fortunes against the Cowboys, that might be enough for Washington to cause an upset.
Styles is still learning. He is still growing as a player and adjusting to the NFL's faster pace. But if last weekend's debut was any indication, he is picking things up quickly.
Being the LB1 is a different challenge entirely.
Luvu was a security blanket for Styles. That's now gone, and even though Chenal also has experience, having spent the first four seasons of his professional career with the Kansas City Chiefs, it won't be the same.
Besides, this is Styles' time. And a dominant showing against the Cowboys is the perfect chance to officially put the NFL on notice.
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