Former Lions CB who flashed as budding star set to start for Cowboys on Sunday
Once upon a time (2021), Amani Oruwariye looked he could be a core future piece of the Detroit Lions' defense as the rebuild got going. He had six interceptions that season (third in the league), Dan Campbell's first as Lions' head coach.
But, for whatever it's worth, there were red flags. Pro Football Focus graded Oruwariye as their 89th-best cornerback that season (minimum of around 250 snaps) and his coverage grade was 83rd (out of 129 qualifiers under the minimum snap critieria).
In 2022 with the Lions, Oruwariye's play fell off a cliff. He lost his starting job midseason, and after that he only played noticeable snaps when the situation forced it. He mostly spent the 2023 season on the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squads, playing in one game for the Jaguars.
After the Jaguars released him at final roster cuts in August, the Dallas Cowboys signed Oruwariye to their practice squad. He has been elevated to the active roster in each of their last two games. He had an interception against the Giants in Week 4, then he started and played every defensive snap against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5.
Injury absence lines up revenge angle for Amani Oruwariye
The Cowboys had a chance to get 2023 All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland back this week, as they opened his practice window to come off IR from a foot injury. He was listed as questionable on Friday, despite not being take off IR yet.
On Saturday, ESPN's Todd Archer reported Bland will be out against the Lions on Sunday and Oruwariye will be elevated from the practice squad for the third time. So he'll have to signed to the active roster after Sunday if the Cowboys want to keep him.
Daron Bland’s debut will have to wait. He is not being added to the 53-man roster this week. With the bye next week, likely to be active for the San Francisco game. The Cowboys have elevated CB Amani Oruwariye and LB Darius Harris from the practice squad.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 12, 2024
According to PFF, over an obvious small sample (91 snaps), Oruwariye has allowed eight catches for 77 yards on 12 targets in his coverage over his first two games with the Cowboys (49.7 passer rating allowed).
With the coverage prowess of Trevon Diggs opposite him, the Lions will surely try to test Oruwariye often on Sunday, It also looks like an important game for him, whether the Cowboys decide to keep him or not.
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