Will Jarryd Hayne be active week 1?

Now that the high of celebrating running back/return specialist Jarryd Haynes accomplishment of making the 49ers initial 53-man roster, and now that we've finally reached the starting line of game 1, a question still remains; Will Hayne be active for game 1?

Hayne wouldn't seem to factor in to the depth chart at running back. With options like Reggie Bush and Mike Davis behind an explosive looking Carlos Hyde, does Haynes positives secure him a spot on the active-46? Here's a couple reasons why it might:

1. Versatility

Hayne comes to the field as someone who wants to get on to the field in any capacity. While he may not see the field as a running back, he brings a lot to the table not just as a returner, but also on coverage units. He's not afraid to tackle and having a special teams unit with the likes of hard tacklers like L.J. McCray and Hayne, could give the 49ers an elite special teams unit.

2. Injury Prevention

The 49ers released their first game week depth chart, and as Coach Jim Tomsula noted this past Tuesday, the listed returners are Hayne "or" Reggie Bush, followed by WR DeAndrew White. Depending on how the coaches plan for the game, it makes sense for Hayne to handle return duties so they can save Reggie Bush for offensive snaps. Bush looked explosive in the 1 preseason game he played in, and with his history of injuries, it makes sense to save him for potential sweeps or catches on offense.

3. $$$$$$$

Everyone knows that the NFL is a business, and Hayne brings a couple of unique opportunities: a whole new marketable region. The 49ers have seen an uptick in jersey sales since the announcement that Hayne made the 53-man roster. It would not surprise me at all if he ends up having one of the top selling jerseys this year. It's also been announced that Channel Seven in Australia will be showing 15 regular season 49er games. This opens the 49ers as well as the NFL up to a whole new area to generate revenue.

4. New Coaching Philosophy

Head Coach Jim Tomsula was criticized for not knowing what kind of gameplay he would run with the team. One of the few coherent comments came in the form of "finding the best guys and putting them in the best position to succeed". One could argue that this has always been Baalkes approach to the draft, but as evidenced with players like LaMichael James, past coaching staffs have not always put players in the best position to succeed. Tomsula has called Hayne a world class athlete, and he may almost be understating that fact. Haynes vision, ability to cut and move, and excellence in breaking tackles not only make him a perfect return man but, once he learns more about the running back position and gains the necessary skills, will jettison him to the top of stats sheets. I fully expect the staff to use him at the very least for returns. Someone that talented won't be relegated to the bench.

We can wonder who will be active and who will be handling what duties, but thankfully we're able to talk about a dynamic player that is not injured, retiring, or getting arrested, and at the end of the day that's always a good thing.

Scott Young

49ersHub Writer

@FakeScottYoung

Sources:

http://www.ninersnation.com/2015/9/8/9281201/jim-tomsula-transcript-cornerbacks-returners-adrian-peterson-norv-turner

http://sacb.ee/4aT0

http://www.ninersnation.com/2015/9/7/9272785/channel-seven-espn-broadcast-49ers-games-australia-jarryd-hayne