Alan

Ball

Huff is a coverage safety, something the Cowboys’ leaky secondary badly needs. He played at Texas and new Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was the Raiders’ coordinator when they drafted Huff seventh overall in 2006. Huff would be a nice upgrade over Alan Ball.

Ball played 498 snaps for one of the league’s worst secondaries last season, struggling mightily in coverage. He made just two starts. Even though the Vikings are in dire need of help at cornerback, Ball wouldn’t be a starter if signed.

The 27-year-old has been back and forth between safety and cornerback over the last few seasons, but he’ll focus on the latter with Houston. Ball will compete with Brandon Harris, Sherrick McManis, and Roc Carmichael for a roster spot.

Ball drew a look from the Vikings the first week of free agency, but was otherwise greeted by a frigid market after being one of the worst offenders in Dallas’ horrendous secondary last season. Ball is still only 27, however, and just two years removed from starting 16 games at free safety. If he makes the team, he’ll be a versatile insurance policy in Houston’s secondary.

Per beat writer Ryan O’Halloran, Ball has made the “right kind of impression” in OTAs. That’s all good and well, but now 28, Ball played just 85 snaps for the Texans last season. His apparent ascension to No. 1 cornerback speaks to how thin the Jags’ secondary is. With Ball apparently locked into a starting job, third-rounder Dwayne Gratz and Marcus Trufant will compete for the other outside job with Mike Harris manning the slot.

A timetable for his return won’t be available until Monday, but he doesn’t sound like someone who is going to be active in Week 2. If both Scandrick and Terence Newman (groin) are out next weekend, Alan Ball would most likely start opposite Mike Jenkins.

Ball started at free safety in 2010, but was moved back to corner during the offseason. Poor in coverage and a woeful tackler, Ball can expect to be picked on by the 49ers this Sunday, even with RCB Mike Jenkins dealing with shoulder and knee injuries.

Jenkins aggravated the injury he suffered in Week 1 against the Jets, but will play through the pain. Alan Ball picked up a few extra snaps in the meantime.

Ball, 28, signed a two-year, $2 million contract and has the ability to play both corner and safety. He also has the size -- 6-foot-2, 197 -- that coach Gus Bradley likes in press-man cornerbacks. Two of Ball, third-rounder Dwayne Gratz, and Marcus Trufant will likely start on the outside with 2012 sixth-rounder Mike Harris covering the slot.

Ball saw extensive playing time last week with Jonathan Joseph (hamstring, groin) sidelined, but has been primarily limited to sub-packages with the Texans this season. He won’t be needed this week with Joseph expected to return. Brandon Harris or newly signed CB Stanford Routt will likely handle nickel duties. Brice McCain (broken foot) is on injured reserve.