Back in 2021, Amani Oruwariye appeared to be a promising cornerstone for the Detroit Lions’ defense during Dan Campbell’s first season as head coach. Oruwariye recorded six interceptions, ranking third in the league that year.

However, there were warning signs. Pro Football Focus (PFF) rated Oruwariye as the 89th-best cornerback and 83rd in coverage grade among players with at least 250 snaps.

In 2022, Oruwariye’s performance drastically declined. He lost his starting spot midseason and only saw significant playing time due to injuries or other circumstances. By 2023, he spent most of the season on the practice squads of the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars, playing just one game for the Jaguars.

After being released by Jacksonville in August, the Dallas Cowboys added him to their practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster for the last two games, making an interception against the Giants in Week 4 and playing every defensive snap against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5.

This week, with Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland still sidelined, Oruwariye is set to be elevated from the practice squad for a third time, meaning the Cowboys will need to sign him to the active roster after the game if they intend to keep him.

According to PFF, Oruwariye has allowed eight catches for 77 yards on 12 targets across 91 snaps in his first two games with the Cowboys, holding opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of 49.7. With Trevon Diggs on the opposite side, the Lions are likely to challenge Oruwariye, making this a crucial game for his future with Dallas.