Nick Bosa’s absence gives 49ers a break amid roster moves

49ers begin staff reductions to reach 53-man roster limit that doesn’t require saving room for Nick Bosa

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — If Nick Bosa’s contract holdout with the 49ers continues into Tuesday, he will gain an advantage.

Bosa is not on the current 90-man roster, and the 49ers will not have to save him a spot on the initial 53-man roster, which is due Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Bosa was placed on the reserve list after failing to report when the 49ers opened training camp on July 25. He continued to work out at his offseason home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

This could help a player on the roster bubble, such as an injured player who needs to make the 53-man roster before being placed on Injured Reserve and remaining eligible to play next season. Tight end Cameron Latu and wide receivers Ray-Ray McCloud and Danny Gray fit that description.

More than a third of the 49ers’ roster must still be cut. Aside from quarterback Trey Lance, who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday, staff cuts began on Sunday with the following names: cornerback Nate Brooks, linebacker Kyahva Tezino, and defensive linemen La’Darius Hamilton, Breeland Speaks, and Spencer Waege.

According to the NFL’s transaction wire, defensive end Taco Charlton’s contract was terminated on Saturday; a week earlier, he was placed on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury. Charlton, a Cowboys first-round pick in 2017, was signed by the 49ers on Aug. 1 and impressed early in camp.

Concerning Bosa, it’s believed that the 49ers’ discussions with his agent, Brian Ayrault, heated up about a week ago. Rather than playing the final year of his rookie contract with a $17.9 million salary this season, Bosa is expected to command the highest contract extension in NFL history for a non-quarterback. In his fourth season, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year after recording a league-leading and career-high 18 1/2 sacks.

General manager John Lynch said Friday night that he expects Bosa to play in the Steelers’ regular-season opener against Pittsburgh on Sept. 10, adding, “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and we’ll keep doing that.” He’s a fantastic player. We need him here. We require his presence.”

Maybe they just need him to wait a few more days for the sake of their roster.