Jarryd Hayne got his first proper taste of the NFL last night when his 49ers side took on the Minnesota Vikings at home. His first involvement came late in the first quarter when he was tasked with fielding a punt near midfield. It did not go well...
Hayne misjudged where the ball would land and leaned forward to catch it. It slipped through his hands and the Vikings recovered the ball. A seasoned punt returner wouldn't have touched the ball in this situation because their team takes over from wherever the ball stops moving. It seems that Hayne hasn't quite learned the NFL's vast catalogue of rules just yet.
It wasn't all bad news, though! Hayne benefited from Reggie Bush's absence early on and got a few carries including this nice run on 3rd & 19; he made a defender miss while turning a potential 6+ yard loss into a decent gain.
Carlos Hyde stole the show from a running back perspective as he racked up a total of 182 yards and 2 touchdowns as the 49ers won by 20 points to Minnesota's 3. A great start for the 49ers in a season where they are predicted to struggle.
So, a mixed start to Jarryd Hayne's NFL career but he can take several positives from the game and will get more involved as the season goes on. Especially if Reggie Bush's injury forces him to miss more game-time.
You can see all his Week 1 Highlights HERE.
