Photo Credit: 49ers – Terrell Lloyd

With two days before roster cuts are due, the 49ers have opened up two roster spots with two veteran players via a release and a move to injured reserve. One of those veterans was very much in contention for a roster spot.

The team announced that Tavon Austin, who had been competing for a roster spot and was at the very least on the bubble, will go on injured reserve with a knee injury, joining Jalen Hurd, Chris Thompson and J.J. Nelson, who was signed the same day as Austin, both as competitors for the same role, as wide receivers placed on injured reserve during training camp. All of Hurd, Nelson and Austin were knee injuries and Thompson’s was undisclosed.

Also reported by The Athletic’s Matt Barrows is the news that Jamar Taylor, who’d been acting as the team’s nickel corner with K’Waun Williams on the sideline with a calf strain, is being released. Williams has returned to practice and there was really never a chance Taylor was going to make the roster.

#49ers have informed veteran CB Jamar Taylor that he's being released. Taylor filled in well at nickel cornerback after K'Waun Williams got hurt. Team has some depth at the possession this season.

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) September 3, 2020

When asked about the backup nickel after Williams’ injury, head coach Kyle Shanahan was very coy, declining to give any information, but insinuating that Taylor was clearly not the guy. He didn’t have a terrible camp, but was beaten time and time again by Trent Taylor, in what was persistent Taylor-on-Taylor violence.

The positive for the 49ers is that Richie James Jr., who seemed more likely than not to get cut, was activated from the active/Non-Football Injury list earlier than expected, returning to practice Thursday. There is of course, Mohamed Sanu on the market. As general manage John Lynch said on KNBR on Thursday morning regarding Sanu: “We’ll see.”