Jarryd Hayne fumbles first punt return with 49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Jarryd Hayne’s NFL career got off to an inauspicious start.
The converted Australian rugby league star made his regular-season debut for the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night – and promptly muffed a punt that the Minnesota Vikings recovered.
49ers coach Jim Tomsula stuck by Hayne, though. He not only was back for the next punt, which went out of bounds, but Hayne also got two touches on a series in the second quarter, rushing for 1 yard and catching a pass for 7 that came up short of the sticks on a third down. Hayne was afforded the opportunity after backup running back Reggie Bush suffered a calf injury in the first quarter. Hayne finished the night with four carries for 13 yards, one catch for 7 yards
"Yeah, I was disappointed with that first drop," Hayne said. "Other than that, I felt it was smooth."
Hayne’s early miscue didn’t hurt the 49ers, whose defense stopped the Vikings and took the ball back on downs.
A two-time National Rugby League MVP, Hayne retired from that sport last fall and announced plans to pursue American football. He signed with the 49ers in March for $115,100 in guarantees and became one of the best stories of the NFL preseason, making the team despite his lack of football experience and unusual, upright running style. Several Australian media outlets were on-hand to cover his regular-season debut Monday night.
"Yeah, I guess it's tough to look back and see how far I've come," Hayne said. "Everything happens so fast over here. Every day I've been going to meetings thinking that I might as well be in Australia playing in another league. I'm just in there, learning and obviously just doing my best."