EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – He started the day with practice. He started the game as a backup.

But cornerback Amani Oruwariye finished the night as one of the game’s heroes, sealing the Cowboys’ 20-15 victory with an interception near the goal line in the final seconds.

What a whirlwind for the veteran, who actually spent last season with the Giants. But in his first game with the Cowboys, he played the second half and was a frequent target for the New York passing game.

“Oh, I knew I was going to be targeted,” Oruwariye said. “If they have (Trevon) Diggs on the other side, I knew I was going to get my share of the work. Like I said, I was trying to get myself mentally ready and knock off the rust a little bit, which I felt like I did that. And then I got into my rhythm, felt comfortable there and went from there.

He joined the Cowboys before the start of the season, but was on the practice squad for the first three games. However, with DaRon Bland in his fourth game on IR, coupled with Caelen Carson suffering a shoulder injury, it forced the Cowboys to elevate a corner from the practice squad.

They selected Oruwariye, one of three cornerbacks on the practice squad.

“This morning they let me know. On Wednesday it was possible, but this morning they let me know it was an option,” Oruwariye said. “So I was just trying to get my thoughts together and get ready for the game.”

But to start the game, the Cowboys went with Andrew Booth at cornerback. He played the first half, but gave up a few plays, including a bomb on rookie Malik Nabers’ first drive. After halftime, with the Cowboys leading 14-9, they switched to Oruwariye, who opened the third quarter in the left corner.

“I knew they were coming straight for me,” he said. “I expected that. But as the match went on, I started to feel comfortable.”

Oruwariye finished the game with three tackles, including a tackle for loss that led to one of the Giants’ five field goals.

But his night ended with an interception of Daniel Jones at the 4-yard line with just five seconds left.

“When the ball is in the air, it goes to me 100 percent. It’s not a 50-50 ball,” he said. “I’m trying to get it. I’ve been doing it since college. I’m confident in my ball skills. Once I saw them throw the ball in the air, I saw it as an opportunity to make a play.”

An opportunity he wasn’t sure he would ever get when the day, or the game, started.