ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys Safety J.J. Wilcox returned to the lineup after missing three games with a deep thigh bruise.
It took him about a quarter to find a rhythm.
Once he did, Wilcox returned to delivering the big hits he frequently dished out before the injury against Minnesota knocked him out of the lineup.
But it was his third-quarter interception that was among the game's biggest plays in the Cowboys' 42-21 win against Detroit on Monday night at AT&T Stadium.
On Detroit’s first possession of the third quarter, quarterback Matthew Stafford faced second-and-31 after a holding penalty and a sack. He forced a pass into coverage that cornerback Brandon Carr deflected and Wilcox intercepted and returned eight yards to the Detroit 38.
"I really ain't see much on that play," Wilcox said. "That was B. Carr's situation and he did a good job deflecting it.
"I was just hustling to the ball and I made a play. You know, safeties have to be ready for tips and deflections."
Stafford blamed himself for the interception.
“I was probably to aggressive trying to make a play out of the pocket. I probably should have just run for 10 and gone for third-and-10, whatever that is. I was just a little bit to aggressive."
Wilcox finished with three tackles and two deflections. He also forced a drop, when T.J. Jones dropped a pass at the Dallas 25, when he saw Wilcox looming.
"It feels good to make some plays," Wilcox said. "I’ve been down the last three weeks, and it has been hard. I’ve been working my tail off to get back."
