Vic Fangio: 'Nnamdi Asomugha can play major role'

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has said that Nnamdi Asomugha can be a "major part" of the team's defense this season.

The NFC West side signed the 32-year-old, who is competing to be the number three cornerback for the team, as a free agent earlier this year.

Fangio told the team's website: "He's done well in his reps that he's had in the game and in practice. Particularly the last two or three weeks, he's played much better.

"He's still playing at a good enough level to be a major part of our defense. If he's the third corner, he's going to get somewhere between, if you use the last two years as a barometer, 50 and 65% of the snaps. That should be a good enough gauge."

Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown will be the 49ers' starting cornerbacks.