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Jarryd Hayne has been in hot form, but he is not guaranteed the punt return role when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Green Bay Packers.
49ers coach Jim Tomsula said on Friday veteran Reggie Bush and speedster Bruce Ellington have both recovered from leg injuries and are ready to play the position when they host the Packers on Sunday (Monday morning Australia time).
Bush and Ellington sat out the past two games, lopsided losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, but have practised all week.
“He’d be one of the guys,” Tomsula, when asked if Bush could return punts against the Packers, told reporters.
“I mean, he works those.
“Bruce is running around really good and obviously Jarryd is doing it.
“We feel like we have a few guys who can handle it.”
The 49ers can only take 46 players into the game so with the experienced Bush and Ellington expected to be injected into the team, players from last weekend’s 47-7 thrashing by the Cardinals will be dropped.
The likely scenario is Hayne will retain the punt return job after his blockbuster 37-yard return in Arizona that led to the 49ers’ only touchdown.
It is kick returner DeAndrew White who could lose his spot, with Ellington, who also plays wide-receiver, taking over.
Bush will move into the back-up running back position behind Carlos Hyde, with either Hayne or Mike Davis the third option.
The 49ers are desperate for a win.
While they picked up a victory in the opening game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings, the poor results against the Steelers and Cardinals have left them with a 1-2 record and plenty of pressure to cause an upset against the undefeated, Aaron Rodgers-led Packers.
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