Jarryd Hayne News: NFL rookie getting positive feedback from 49ers coach despite demotion
Jarryd Hayne is spending his time well in the San Francisco 49ers practice squad, according to the Australian rugby league star himself.
Despite being inactive during game days, Hayne believes he is doing better than the previous months and revealed he continues to get praise from 49ers special teams coach Thomas McGaughey.
“My special team’s coach told me, ‘If I can come this far in five or six months, imagine how much further I’m going to go in 12 months,’” Hayne told the 49ers’s official website. “That’s definitely my mindset.”
Hayne understands his main goal is to rejoin San Francisco’s 53-man active squad, but he also believes it is not worth trying to rush the process.
Speculations about Hayne heading back in Australia to play for the National Rugby League has sparked following his inactive status with the 49ers. NRL teams like Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers have reportedly shown interest in bidding for Hayne, but the Australian punter confirmed he has no intentions of surrendering his NFL dream.
"With everything I've done, I'm not even sure why it's still a question," Hayne said, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. "It's stupid people would actually believe it."
Hayne is not expected to suit up for the 49ers game against archrival Seattle Seahawks as confirmed by coach Jim Tomsula. Hayne has continued to be overlooked as replacement for an injured Carlos Hyde. Veteran running back Shaun Draughn, who was signed by the 49ers following Hayne’s demotion, is expected to start at RB.
Hayne has run the ball eight times for 25 yards while catching one pass for seven yards in his six games with the 49ers. The 27-year-old rookie also recorded eight punt returns for 76 yards.
His 37-yard punt return in Week 3 of the 2015-2016 NFL regular season against the Arizona Cardinals is still the longest of any 49ers player over the last two seasons.
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