Amani Oruwariye: 'It Hurt Me To My Core' Not Playing

Detroit Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye reacts to being benched against the New England Patriots.

Detroit Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Coming off of a career-best season, the expectations were higher entering 2022, as Oruwariye recorded six interceptions in 2021. 

During training camp, the coaching staff had levied expectations that the 26-year-old defensive back would work toward becoming a shutdown cornerback, responsible for taking away and limiting the opponents' top wideouts. 

Unfortunately, his struggles in the first quarter of the season culminated in the coaching staff deciding to sit him against the New England Patriots in Week 5. 

Being a healthy scratch, despite the rash of injuries and the team needing as much help as possible, was clearly in response to his poor form as of late. 

"As a whole, the defense, we weren't playing well," Oruwariye told reporters Wednesday. "And, I could say, probably, I maybe wasn't playing as well, too. I can admit that. But, it's just the league. That's just the business, man. I can't control it. Only thing I can control is what I do. And so, they made that move, and I just got to hone in on what I could do better when I'm out there."

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As a competitor, not being able to perform and aid the team certainly impacted the 2019 fifth-round pick. 

"Not being on the field to be able to compete with your brother, especially in a game like that, when a lot of guys went down, and I probably could have helped out and they could have used me. It was tough not to be out there," said Oruwariye. "But, like I said, just trying to keep my mental right, keep my physical right and just be ready for when my name is called."

Asked what some of the issues impacting his play were, Oruwariye did not blame anything on his back injury suffered early in the season. 

"I just would say that maybe being put in a lot more critical situations and not coming up with the plays. For example, the (Rashaad) Penny run, just like the open field tackle. Whatever happened, I got to get him down. That's just the end all, be all of it. So, it's just making the plays when they come to me," Oruwariye expressed. 

In Week 5 against the Patriots, several defensive backs were forced to miss snaps throughout the course of the game. 

Being on the sidelines and observing was quite challenging for the fourth-year cornerback, being that he felt healthy and was not able to suit up and fill in when needed. 

"Just killing me as much as you can imagine, man. It just, it hurt me to my core," he explained. "Just seeing that I'm healthy and I couldn't -- I wasn't able to go out there and do anything. But, like I said, hopefully that's not the case moving forward."

Being in a contract year, the relationship between a player and the team's staff is imperative, but Oruwariye insists the benching did not impact how he feels about playing in Detroit. 

"I have particular relationships with each and every one of my coaches," Oruwariye explained. "Dan (Campbell), coach Pleasant, coach Glenn, everybody. I've had many conversations with them. They say their piece, I say my piece. And like I said, at the end of the day, I got to understand that's the business side of it. And, I can't control all of that. So, being worried about that isn't going to do anything for my growth as a player. So, as much as maybe I might be frustrated or whatever it is in the beginning, that's got to go away as quick as possible and just get back to work."