ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- In need of a wide receiver after Dez Bryant broke his foot in the season opener, the Cowboys traded for Brice Butler.

With Bryant not traveling to Buffalo this weekend, the Cowboys turned to the former Raider to take on a larger workload.

Although the Bills prevailed 16-6 Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Butler recorded career highs with four receptions for 74 yards.

"He was big," Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "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.

"I thought he did some really good things."

Butler was targeted four times on the game's opening drive. On third-and-6 at the Dallas 34, quarterback Kellen Moore connected with Butler down the right sideline for a 27-yard gain. Four plays later, Dan Bailey gave the Cowboys a 3-0 lead.

On Dallas' only other scoring drive, Butler turned a short pass across the middle into a 34-yard gain. Bailey added another field goal four plays later, tying the score 6-6 with 5:29 left in the second quarter.

"Today was a good day," Butler said. "It's been a long season for me individually and for the team, and I've had some big ups and downs."

It wasn't all good, though. Moore threw a pass behind Butler late in third quarter that turned into an interception. Butler was running a slant when the ball bounced off his hands and right to Bills linebacker A.J. Tarpley.

"I thought the ball was going to hit the ground," Butler said. "It was low and I just tried to make it, and I was spinning and I couldn't."

Butler, a seventh-round pick in 2013, showed glimpses of his ability at New Orleans in Week 4. He recorded a 67-yard reception from Brandon Weeden, but he strained his right hamstring on the play.

Sunday was only his third game since the injury.

"I think I can only go up from here," said Butler, who's under contract for one more year. "I feel like I teased everybody earlier in the year by showing them a little something early, and then I got hurt and I was out for a while. I believe if I didn't, I would have been doing this all season."

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones declined to speculate on the type of impact a healthy Butler could have had this season.

"The biggest thing with Brice is he's got to bring the same intensity to practice and to work each week," Jones said. "Obviously, he's got skills. But he's got to bring the work ethic and intensity level every week."

Twitter: @jonmachota