Oruwariye not likely part of team’s future
Detroit Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye saw his role drastically decrease against the Green Bay Packers.
Playing only one defensive snap and two on special teams was likely not what the 26-year-old envisioned, especially during a contract year.
When asked about the defensive backs declining role, head coach Dan Campbell took the diplomatic approach, indicating the defense could still need him down the road.
“Yeah, I see Amani — look, he was a pro, man,” Campbell said. “He came in, he worked last week. He helped us on special teams, he’s ready on defense when needed and I see him just continuing to work and practice. I mean, at some point we’re going to need him again.”
With a clear shakeup needed in the secondary, Detroit’s defense turned to cornerbacks Jerry Jacobs, Will Harris and Mike Hughes in Week 9 against a divisional rival.
A review of the film over the past few weeks has shown Aaron Glenn relying less and less on blitzes and incorporating more zone looks in the secondary.
Hughes and Jacobs split time on the outside opposite of Jeff Okudah.
Harris, named Detroit’s “Swiss army knife” by Campbell, saw action in the slot against a struggling Packers offense.
“Yeah, we liked it a lot. There again, I thought it was good to see. We got Mike off of the — he came back from an injury,” Campbell explained to reporters. “So, I thought he looked really well on the edge on the perimeter and so did Jerry.
“And that was the plan to work Jerry in as well and let those guys play. And we like both of them. We love Will at the nickel. Man, he really stepped in there and played well. You guys know Will’s our Swiss army knife. Man, he can do a lot of things for us. We needed him to play nickel and I thought he really stepped up and played a physical game, run and pass.”
Despite coming off of a productive 2021 season, Oruwariye has not taken steps forward this season.
In fact, his play has regressed, resulting in the veteran defender getting benched against the Patriots.
“I got to understand that’s the business side of it and I can’t control all that, so me worrying about all that isn’t gong to do anything for my growth as a player,” Oruwariye said after getting benched against New England. “So as much as maybe I might be frustrated or whatever in the beginning, that’s got to go away as quick as possible and just get back to work.”
Against the Dolphins, Oruwariye was spotted out of position and likely faced the consequences of not consistently executing the game plan.
With the team likely headed in a different direction in the secondary, these final nine games of the season could be the last for a player drafted by the former regime.