49ers snap count: Bush's injury forces change to Hayne plan

Running back Reggie Bush sustained a calf strain after appearing in just eight plays, and that forced the 49ers to make some alterations to how Jarryd Hayne was utilized.

Hayne muffed a punt, resulting in the 49ers’ only turnover of the game, the first time he stepped on the field. But the reason Hayne was removed from his duty on special teams was because he was needed on offense, 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said.

Hayne played 10 snaps of offense in the 49ers’ 20-3 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Levi’s Stadium.

“Players play football and sometimes things happen,” Tomsula said. “Jarryd has got the mindset, in my mind, that he’ll overcome. The only thing that I tell the guys that I can promise them is going to happen in a football game, is something’s not going to go right somewhere and we need to be able to get to the next play and we need to keep going. Don’t let one play hurt you twice.”

Said Hayne, “I was disappointed with that first drop. Other than that, I felt it was smooth. Definitely the man of the night was Carlos Hyde, running the rock. It was great to learn from him.”

Hayne gained 13 yards on four rushing attempts, and he added one catch for seven yards. It was 11 months ago that Hayne, 27, left stardom in Australia’s National Rugby League to pursue a career in the NFL.

“I guess it’s tough to look back and see how far I’ve come,” Hayne said. “Everything happens so fast over here. Every day I’ve been going to meetings thinking that I might as well be in Australia playing in another league. I’m just in there, learning and obviously just doing my best.”

It's not certain how long Bush will be sidelined with his left calf strain, but it appears unlikely he can rebound in time for the 49ers' game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"We don’t think it’s serious, but again we’ll take care of that," Tomsula said.

The 49ers started three tight ends – Vernon Davis, Garrett Celek and Vance McDonald – and went heavy with that personnel group throughout the game. Fullback Bruce Miller played just 11 snaps (15 percent).

On defense, the 49ers rotated their six defensive linemen. Ian Williams and Glenn Dorsey both played 36 snaps (64 percent).

The 49ers also mixed in a lot of defensive backs, along with starters Tramaine Brock, Kenneth Acker, Antoine Bethea and Eric Reid, who played every snap. Dontae Johnson, Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward each saw considerable action, too.

 

Here’s a complete rundown of the 49ers’ play time on offense, defense and special teams:

 

Offensive
(73 snaps)
73 -- RT Erik Pears, RG Jordan Devey, C Marcus Martin, LG Alex Boone, LT Joe Staley, QB Colin Kaepernick
72 -- TE Vernon Davis
59 -- WR Anquan Boldin
55 -- RB Carlos Hyde
51 -- TE Garrett Celek
44 -- WR Torrey Smith
37 -- TE Vance McDonald
14 -- WR Quinton Patton
11 -- FB Bruce Miller
10-- RB Jarryd Hayne
8-- RB Reggie Bush
3 -- WR Bruce Ellington
1 -- TE Blake Bell

 

Defense
(56 snaps)
56 -- CB Kenneth Acker, FS Eric Reid, CB Tramaine Brock, SS Antoine Bethea
55 -- LB NaVorro Bowman
49-- OLB Ahmad Brooks
47 -- OLB Aaron Lynch
41 -- LB Michael Wilhoite
36 -- NT Ian Williams, DE Glenn Dorsey
28 -- DE Quinton Dial
20 -- CB Dontae Johnson, S Jaquiski Tartt
17 -- DT Tank Carradine
13 -- S Jimmie Ward
12 -- DE Tony Jerod-Eddie, DE Arik Armstead
5 -- OLB Eli Harold
1 -- LB Shayne Skov

 

Special teams
15 -- L.J. McCray, Nick Bellore, Miller, Johnson, Tartt, Skov
13 -- Bradley Pinion, McDonald
12 -- Patton
10 -- Harold
8 -- Kyle Nelson, Acker
7 -- Celek, Dial, Ward
5 -- Phil Dawson, Ian Silberman, Trent Brown, Pears, Devey, Martin, Reid, Wilhoite
4 -- Ellington
3 -- Keith Reaser, Hayne, Brock
2 -- Bethea, Bowman, Brooks, Lynch, Williams, Dorsey, Jerod-Eddie

 

Did not play -- Blaine Gabbert

 

Not active -- WR DeAndrew White, RB Mike Davis, CB Shareece Wright, G Brandon Thomas, NT Mike Purcell, C Nick Easton, OLB Corey Lemonier.