Last season, Lions CB Amani Oruwariye was one of the few feel-good stories in Detroit. In his third season with the Lions, Oruwariye led the team with six interceptions and was generally the most reliable defensive back on the field.
Unfortunately, Oruwariye’s solid play from 2021 has not carried over into the new season. He’s been on the receiving end of several big plays by the opposing offense. The big knock on Oruwariye last season, his tackling, has not improved either.
Oruwariye has earned an overall PFF grade of 27.7 through the first four weeks. That is dead last, 117th out of 117 cornerbacks who have played at least 50 snaps.
The coverage grade has been nearly as bad for No. 24 in Honolulu blue. Oruwariye is 116th, next-to-last and above only Jayln Armour-Davis of the Ravens, a part-time player who has exactly 50 snaps to Oruwariye’s 206.
No. 24 in Detroit is also tied for the league lead in missed tackles by a CB with six. That’s the same number of penalties against Oruwariye, a figure that also leads all cornerbacks.
With Jerry Jacobs, a more physical and speedier presence, coming back soon from his knee injury, Oruwariye’s poor play might not last much longer.
