San Francisco 49ers

49ers' Hayne may be ready to make impact sooner than later

Published Oct. 15, 2015 6:21 p.m. ET

foxsports

Jarryd Hayne could see his learning curve - and workload - accelerated when the San Francisco 49ers host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Hayne, the former Australian rugby star who announced he would take a crack at the NFL exactly one year ago Thursday, may be in line for some substantial duty - and possibly his first start - in the backfield with running back Carlos Hyde nursing a foot injury and backup Reggie Bush dealing with a calf strain.

Hyde's absence from Wednesday's practice was viewed more as precautionary, but the second-year back was unable to practice again Thursday while Bush also sat out.

#OnThisDay one year ago, @JarrydHayne announced his intention to pursue an NFL career. http://t.co/JYX4Cxq0gh pic.twitter.com/0UR0qCQGpZ
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 15, 2015

“I think each week he’s getting comfortable,” 49ers special teams coordinator Thomas McGauhey said of Hayne, who is averaging 10.3 yards on punt returns. “I think every rep he gets in practice and the games, I think he’s getting more and more comfortable. He’s starting to understand the game a little bit more offense and special teams-wise. He’s getting better every week in the coverage units. So he just needs to keep going in that direction.”

Hayne has seen only sparse action at running back with eight rushing attempts for 25 yards, but he nearly scored his first touchdown on a eight-yard run in last week's loss to the New York Giants. McGaughey reminded the media that that Hayne has only five football games under his belt, but said he has the potential to be one of the league's elite punt returners.

"Next year, he might be leading the league in punt returns. Who knows?" McGaughey said. “He has that kind of ability to get those big averages because he’s a big straight ahead, strong runner. And he does a good job making people miss in space. So, I mean, he has the ability to be a very good punt returner.”