The Jarryd Hayne era is over in San Francisco.
Hayne, the Australian rugby league star who made a splash in the preseason and surprised a lot of people by making the 49ers’ 53-man roster, has been released.
The 49ers announced the move today. They cut Hayne in favor of running back Kendall Gaskins, who has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.
Although Hayne showed some promise as a running back and kick returner, he never looked completely comfortable and struggled with fielding punts. He has the athletic talent to play in the NFL, but he had a steep learning curve and ultimately couldn’t get up to speed fast enough.
Hayne will now be placed on waivers, and it wouldn’t be surprising if some other team decides to pick him up and give him a shot. If he clears waivers, it also wouldn’t be surprising to see the 49ers add him to their practice squad. Hayne might have a future in the NFL, even if he’s not ready yet.