INDIANAPOLIS -- The Lions beefed up the secondary last week when they signed safety Erik Coleman who had been released by the Falcons.

But until today (Thursday) at the NFL Combine they did not have a comment on the acquisition.

Coach Jim Schwartz said at this point it’s uncertain whether he will start opposite Louis Delmas, or serve as a backup.

“I think physically he fits what we’re looking for, sizewise and things like that. He also has starting experience, I think that’s important. We need, Amari Spievey needs to develop for us, he needs to continue. He did some things very, very well as a rookie, other things he played as a rookie,’’ Schwartz said.

“It helps tremendously when you have Erik who is still young, fits the job description and also has a lot of starting experience, can start, may be a backup again -- that race hasn’t been run yet. It was one of those situations he was available, he fit the job description of what we were looking for and it was good to add him,’’ the coach added.

The 28-year-old Coleman started in his first two seasons (2008 and 2009) with the Falcons, but was injured in the opener last year and replaced by a younger guy.

“When he came back healthy they had gone to their younger player and that guy played pretty well. I thought he played well in the opener that was the only film we had on him last year,’’ Schwartz said.

Coleman, who was drafted by the Jets out of Washington State, started 45 of his first 48 NFL games with the Jets.

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)