SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Jarryd Hayne, the ultra-popular Australian rugby league convert, has returned to the San Francisco 49ers' 53-man roster as the team announced his promotion from the practice squad on Saturday.
Left guard Alex Boone, who suffered a right knee injury at the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 13 and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, was placed on season-ending injured reserve in the corresponding roster move.
Hayne, meanwhile, made the Niners' initial 53-man roster and was their punt returner to open the season, though he fumbled away his first NFL touch. He also saw time at running back for the 49ers as he had 25 yards on eight carries to go with his eight punt returns for 76 yards, including a team-high 37-yard return.
But he was surprisingly waived by the Niners on Halloween. Two days later, after passing through waivers, Hayne was signed to the 49ers' practice squad.
"[The time] I've been on the practice squad, I've learned so much," Hayne said recently. "Two weeks ago, I literally took every single rep on the look squad. That was huge."
The Niners (4-10) are thin at running back heading into tomorrow's game at the Detroit Lions (5-9) with starter Shaun Draughn already ruled out with a knee injury and Kendall Gaskins; newcomer DuJuan Harris, signed off the Baltimore Ravens practice squad this week; and Hayne the only healthy running backs on the roster.
Offensive coordinator Geep Chryst said this week that Hayne's role on special teams could be a deciding factor on if he is among the 46 active players for the Lions game. Three of the seven inactive spots are already spoken for in Draughn, offensive lineman Marcus Martin (concussion) and inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite (ankle).
"I feel 10 times more confident than I did six weeks ago when I was actually playing," Hayne said. "It's day and night. I know I've just got to be patient. ... It's always funny looking at old film. It's one of those awkward things. You go, 'What was I thinking? What was I doing?' It's hilarious. To think how much different it's going to be in another 12 months -- it's going to be incredible."