With Dez Bryant out due to nagging foot and ankle injuries, Brice Butler got his first career start in the loss to the Bills on Sunday, and provided something of a bright spot for an offense that managed just six points behind Kellen Moore—who was making his first NFL start.
Butler led the team in receiving with 74 yards on four catches, and proved to be a deep threat—which is something the Cowboys have really been without for much of the year.
“We told Brice that it was his time with where we were with Dez not being out there and him finally being healthy to be a guy we can look to,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan told the team’s official website. “And I thought he did some really good things.”
The Cowboys traded a fifth round pick to the Raiders in exchange for Butler back on September 15, two days after Bryant broke his foot in the season opener. On the year, he has 198 yards on eight catches.
It was only Butler’s second game back from a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for seven weeks.
"I thank the coaching staff for staying patient with me,” Butler said, “and letting me know that, ‘When you get back out there, we're going to give you a shot.’”
