by David Zizmor

photo credit google images (Jarryd Hayne)

SANTA CLARA–Return specialist Jarryd Hayne might be inactive on a game day and why they still do that that’s beyond me. Everybody on the 53 man roster should be eligible to play but that’s besides the point. There is no reason why he shouldn’t play the reason he’s kept on this team is because he’s a great return man and the Niners really can use every advantage that they could get in the return game.

Using Hayne for punts and kickoffs would be to their benefit and being used for special teams player on those plays so he would be able to get in on the 46 man game day roster without too much question. He’s proven himself in the preseason and he made the team relatively easily based on his performance and he was able to get on the active roster.

The Niners don’t have too many outstanding issues with injuries right now and there’s no reason why Hayne can’t play and we’ll have to see what the Niners think. He’s a return guy and he’s on special teams and he can play running back. He’s not going to get much time there at least initially. He showed in the pre season that he can get his C legs in that department.

Since he’s going to be a big special teams contributor he’ll get in there, remember when he’s not on the return side but on the coverage side he’s considered the wedge buster that’s not an easy position on special teams. A lot of guys already on special teams aren’t able to play the position of the wedge buster and Hayne should be active on Monday against the Vikings.

If Hayne succeeds it would be a much better story to focus on with the 49ers rather than dwell on their many off field problems in the off season with all the suspensions and retirements and craziness that’s been happening. Hayne might be a great story but it ultimately comes down to how the 49ers perform down on the field.

If Hayne has a nice game but the Niners lay a big egg against the Vikings on Monday night with a national audience there’s going to be a lot more talk about how poorly they played than what Hayne had done in the ball game. Frankly if Hayne gets a lot of touches the Niners aren’t doing too well your returning a lot of kickoffs and that means the defense isn’t helping. If Hayne ends up getting a lot of kickoffs that means the defense isn’t helping.

David Zizmor does the 49ers weekly podcast for http://www.sportsradioservice.com