EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – He started the day with training. He started the game as a substitute.

But cornerback Amani Oruwariye ended the night as one of the game’s heroes, securing 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 of New York’s passing game.

“Oh, I knew I would be targeted,” Oruwariye said. “If they had (Trevon) Diggs on the other side, I knew I would get my fair share of work. Like I said, I tried to mentally prepare myself and kind of shake off the rust of what I felt like doing.” So I did. And then I got into my rhythm, felt comfortable out there and went from there.”

He joined the Cowboys before the season began but was on the practice squad for the first three games. However, with DaRon Bland playing his fourth game on IR and Caelen Carson suffering a shoulder injury, the Cowboys were forced to bring up a corner from the practice squad.

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

“They told me this morning. On Wednesday it was a possibility, but this morning they told me it was possible,” Oruwariye said. “So I just tried to get my thoughts together and get ready for the game.”

But early in the game, the Cowboys used Andrew Booth at cornerback. He played the first half but gave up a few plays, including a bomb on the first drive against rookie Malik Nabers. After halftime, the Cowboys led 14-9 and switched to Oruwariye, who opened the third quarter at left corner.

“I knew they were coming right at me,” he said. “I expected that. But as the game went on I felt more and more 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 a game-winning interception by 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 do it. I’ve been doing this since college. I have confidence in my ball skills. When I saw them throw the ball in the air, I just used it as an opportunity to make a play.”

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