Hayne solid in NFL return
Aussie star confident in his abilities despite mixed reviews against Detroit Lions
Surprising. ficient. Those words aptly describe Jarryd Hayne’s NFL return after his pro career had been stalled the past two months.
After biding his time with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad, Hayne should be relatively pleased with how he fared in yesterday’s 17-32 loss to the Detroit Lions.
He certainly fired up after the game, hitting back at his critics and declaring he was capable of playing in the NFL.
“I know I’m capable of playing at this level,” Hayne told reporters after yesterday’s game in Detroit. “I have
Encouraging.
Ef- a lot of confidence in my ability and to go out there and perform the way I did, I think it showed.”
Just 11 days ago 49ers special teams co-ordinator Thomas McGaughey said Hayne “needs to learn how to play football” and “it just didn’t work out”. But he was activated on Saturday (US time) after running back Shaun Draughn was ruled out of the game with a sprained knee.
It was Hayne’s most extensive workload in a 49ers uniform, at least as a running back, a position the 49ers had stubbornly dismissed as too challenging for him earlier this season. His statistics, however, were pedestrian: 27 yards on nine carries and 20 yards on five receptions. Hayne had a good day even if he wasn’t the 49ers’ most productive ball carrier. DuJuan Harris ran for a team-high 73 yards only five days after being signed from the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.
Playing 35 of 59 offensive snaps provided Hayne key experience in his ongoing learning process.
“I thought he represented himself well,” 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said.
The coach did have some criticism for Hayne, pointing out how the Australian fell short of the first down marker on a key play late in the game.
“Jarryd just has to get to the sticks,” Tomsula said. “He has to run the route to the sticks.”
49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert, however, was full of praise for Hayne’s performance.
“Jarryd Hayne stepped up, ran hard and caught the ball in the backfield,” Gabbert, who connected with Hayne on five of six passes, said.
Hayne also showed his toughness, taking a five-yard reception despite being hammered by Lions linebacker Tahir Whitehead.
The 49ers plan to keep Hayne on the 53-man roster for next week’s regular-season finale against the St Louis Rams, thus retaining his contract rights heading into the offseason.