Ex-New Orleans DB joins Lions

Another day, another DB.

The Lions continue to shuffle their secondary, signing cornerback Jason David and putting Demarcus Faggins (groin) on injured reserve.

Coach Jim Schwartz and his staff could play David as soon as Sunday at Seattle.

“We get a new guy every week, it seems like,” defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said Wednesday. “And it was funny, Jim asked last night or the night before: ‘Has anybody talked to the new guy yet?’ And both secondary coaches said: ‘We met with him for 5 hours.’

“We’re doing everything on the run. We’ll see later on in the week how we’re going to use him.”

David has a lot of catching up to do physically and mentally. The Saints released him after their first exhibition. He said he tried out for the Browns and Seahawks soon afterward but failed both physicals. So he rehabbed a shoulder problem, worked out and waited.

“When people say, ‘He was just literally on the streets,’ that’s kind of how I was,” David said. “I was still trying to work out as much as I can and backpedal and stuff, but it’s not the same as actually putting on the pads and strapping it up. …

“You’re never really prepared for the speed of the game. It’s going to take me a minute to just kind of get my legs under me.”

The Colts drafted the 5-foot-8, 180-pounder in the fourth round in 2004. He started for them for three seasons — and started Super Bowl XLI — before spending two years with the Saints. He has 16 career interceptions, including five last season.

“He’s not very big, but he’s got a knack for getting the ball,” Cunningham said. “We need to do that. We only got one turnover last week, and we’re shooting to get some more turnovers.”

The Lions have intercepted five passes, one more than last season, but still are tied for 24th in the NFL this year. They have three interceptions by defensive backs, two more than last season, but still not good.

They are allowing opponents to complete 70.5% of their passes, second-worst in the NFL.

The secondary has been in constant flux — in terms of the roster and lineup — because of injury and performance.

The starting corners likely will be Will James and Phillip Buchanon again Sunday. Anthony Henry is practicing as a starter on special teams but not on defense.

But the Lions are coming off their best performance on pass defense this season. They held St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger to 17-for-35 for 176 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

“I think we’re seeing improvement in the secondary,” Schwartz said. “We need to stay on that track and settle it down and move forward for the second half of the season.”

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