NFL News: San Francisco 49ers rookie Jarryd Hayne ‘frustrated’ at NFL debut

Jarryd Hayne made his NFL debut with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, but it did not go as expected for the Australian rugby league star. It was a victorious debut for Hayne as the 49ers upset the Minnesota Vikings 20-3. However, the Australian football sensation had a hard time flying the “Hayne Plane” at Levi’s Stadium.

After an impressive preseason with the 49ers, Hayne was given the chance to continue his NFL stardom when the club confirmed before kickoff he will not be in the inactive list. The 27-year-old Hayne got a taste of his first NFL regular season action late in the first quarter in an attempted punt return. But Hayne fumbled the catch leaving the Aussie frustrated.

“Even when I walked off after the fumble and thought ‘could it get any worse?’,” Hayne said, reports Fox Sports. “I was seeing where their rushes were, I was in emergency mode trying to make a play and a catch and it didn’t happen.”

However, Hayne was able to recover in the second quarter, making one yard from his first carry at running back. He then followed up with a nice reception in the same quarter, putting a defender on skates for a seven-yard gain. The play made Hayne the first Australian to make a rush in the NFL, albeit a modest finish of 13 yards from four carries, and seven yards from one reception.

Hayne also admitted he still has a long way to go and “learnt a tough lesson” from his first NFL action. However, the former Eel is only expected to remain in the 49ers active list until fellow running back and returned Reggie Bush returns from a calf injury.

Meanwhile, 49ers coach Jim Tomsula was happy with how Hayne performed despite fumbling on his first NFL regular season coach. Tomsula, who has always been the moderator of “Haynemania” hype, insisted he has no doubts with Hayne’s ability to play American football.

“Players play football and sometimes things happen. Jarryd has got the mindset, in my mind, that he'll overcome it,” Tomsula said, ABC reported.

Carlos Hyde, who is playing in his second season with the 49ers, stole the show at Levi’s Stadium. Hyde rounded out his dominating performance to run a 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the team a winning start to their NFL campaign. The 49ers will head to Pittsburgh in their Week 2 outing next Monday.

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