JACKSONVILLE – The long wait is over. Now, it's time for more.

Creating turnovers can be about momentum, and the Jaguars got some this past Sunday. They figure to need more Sunday in one of their toughest matchups of the season.

That's the task, and Montaric Brown said the time is now.

"When you get that first one, a bunch of them come," he said as the Jaguars (2-8) prepared to play the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (8-1) at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., Sunday.

Brown, the Jaguars’ third-year cornerback, registered his first career interception in a 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday. It was one of a season-high three turnovers – all interceptions – the Jaguars forced in the game, raising their total of defensive takeaways this season to seven.

"It's rush and coverage together," Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen said. "You get interior push on the quarterback. You change your coverages. I thought our secondary did a really good job of showing one thing and doing another thing. It was pretty good."

The Jaguars have eight total takeaways this season, with one fumble recovery on special teams, and are tied for 23rd in the NFL in the category. The Jaguars have four takeaways in the last two games.

"We always harp on getting the ball off of them," said defensive end Travon Walker, who has the Jaguars' lone defensive touchdown this season – a 25-yard fumble recovery in a Week 9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Once we get the ball off of them, everything is in our hands. We can help put the offense in a great field position to go down and score or once we get our hands on the ball, we can go score ourselves. As long as we keep the offense from scoring, we win."

Said Nielsen, "It's part of just staying the course. You hope it continues to go that way. Two or three a game, that would be really good to end the season. If you were two and three a game, you would be one of the top of the league. We just have to continue that trend."

NOTABLE

• Rookie defensive tackle Maason Smith (ankle) and starting left guard Ezra Cleveland (ankle) both practiced on a limited basis for a second consecutive day after missing this past Sunday. Smith and Cleveland were among 10 Jaguars players practicing limited for a second consecutive day.
• The others: Cornerback Tyson Campbell (shoulder), wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder), offensive lineman Blake Hance (knee), defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (shoulder), right guard Brandon Scherff (knee), wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest), running back D'Ernest Johnson (hamstring) and safety Daniel Thomas (hamstring). Second-year running back Tank Bigsby did not practice because of an ankle injury and quarterback Trevor Lawrence did not practice because of a shoulder injury, with Head Coach Doug Pederson ruling out Lawrence Wednesday. Running back Keilan Robinson (toe) practiced full for a second consecutive day and his window to return from injured reserve remains open.

NOTABLE

• Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor on Thursday said a focus will remain getting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.more opportunities. "We need to do something," Taylor said. Thomas, who has 37 receptions for 607 yards and five touchdowns through 10 games this season, has four receptions for 34 yards in the last two games – including two receptions for 12 yards on three targets Sunday. "The biggest thing is continuing to try to give him those opportunities," Taylor said. "There are times you call things where you think 'He's going to get the ball right here' and something happens to take the play away – whether it's pressure or whether the ball just didn't get thrown for whatever reason. We were calling screens the other day that didn't get thrown out to him at times. There are opportunities. We have to continue to find those. He is dynamic for us. He needs opportunities to get the football."

QUOTABLE

• Nielsen on a Lions offense that ranks second in the NFL in scoring (31.55 points per game) and seventh in total yards (366.88) this season:

> "We've played some good offenses. But this group is up there. Even if they have a negative play, they get right back on track and keep it to third and manageable. It's very impressive. [Offensive coordinator] Ben [Johnson] has done a really good job with the group, getting everybody together. [Head Coach] Dan [Campbell] has done a really good job with the team and the operation. You can tell he has his fingerprints all over it. It is going to be a heck of a test. It's a physical, tough group. We're excited. We'll be ready for them."

QUOTABLE

• Walker, who leads the Jaguars with 7.5 sacks this season, on whether he prefers to use power or agility for a sack: "Power. It's all about taking manhood for me."