Hayne to start in 49ers’ opener
Jarryd Hayne looks set to play against the Minnesota Vikings after the San Francisco 49ers pencilled the former NRL star in as a punt returner, kick returner and running back for the season opener.
The 49ers unveiled their player depth chart on Wednesday (Thursday NZ time) and it confirms Hayne’s utility value to the team.
Head coach Jim Tomsula has been cagey about where, or even if, Hayne will play against the Vikings on Monday (Tuesday NZ time) at the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium.
Instead of ranking his returners as first, second or third options, Hayne and veteran Reggie Bush are bracketed together on the depth chart.
Bruce Ellington is also in the mix as a punt returner. DeAndrew White joins Hayne and Bush as kick returners.
The depth chart also shows how Hayne has impressed the 49ers’ coaching staff as a running back, with the Australian third behind number one Carlos Hyde and second-ranked Bush.
Hayne relegated South Carolina running back Mike Davis into the fourth slot.
Tomsula has repeatedly said Hayne, who played his first elite American football game less than a month ago, needed to show value to the team in multiple positions and the depth chart confirms that.
Tomsula could have left Hayne off one of the return position lists like Ellington and White, but instead views the Australian as too much of a weapon. Hayne and Bush are the only players listed in three positions.