Programming note: Vic Fangio and Greg Roman are scheduled to address the media starting at 12:05 p.m. Watch the live stream right here.
SANTA CLARA – The 49ers, who perfected the art of keeping 54 players on their 53-man roster through the first half of the season, currently have one vacancy on their active roster.
And it seems unlikely the team will fill that spot prior to Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers can remain at 52 players. If the team had a practice squad player in his third season, the 49ers would be required to reach the 53-player limit.
Outside linebacker Aldon Smith and nose tackle Glenn Dorsey are expected back on the team’s roster within the next couple of weeks. The 49ers will have to clear one spot to place both players on their roster. Running back Marcus Lattimore and linebacker NaVorro Bowman will be added at some point, too.
[MAIOCCO: 49ers in no rush to get Lattimore in a game]
Then, the 49ers could resume their Bubba Ventrone-for-Josh Johnson shuffle to make room for Smith and Dorsey. The 49ers like having Johnson, the No. 3 quarterback, practice during the week. Then, late in the week, the 49ers have released Johnson and signed Ventrone for his special-teams contributions on game days.
After placing center Daniel Kilgore (fractured leg) and cornerback Chris Cook (torn hamstring) on injured reserve last week, the 49ers are one player under the roster limit. But the 49ers were not shorthanded at practice on Wednesday.
For the first time all season, the 49ers had every eligible player on the practice field. Linebacker Patrick Willis (toe) and defensive backs Tramaine Brock (toe) and Jimmie Ward (quadriceps) were limited, but everyone else took part in full participation.
Despite their roster opening, the 49ers are not lacking for players to practice. In addition to their 52-man roster, the 49ers have 10 players on their practice squad, along with Dorsey and Lattimore, who began their three-weeks practice windows this week.
