Jarryd Hayne reacts to incredible jersey sales

AFTER edging out some of the NFL’s most well-known names, Jarryd Hayne provided the most humbling reaction to his jersey’s popularity.

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers poses with fans after the 49ers beat the Minnesota Vikings in their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 14, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

THE magnitude of Jarryd Hayne’s success to-date in the NFL was solidified on Friday when it was announced that the rookie’s No. 38 jersey was the fifth most popular among football fans during September.

More in-demand than 49ers quarterback and team mate Colin Kaepernick, Hayne fell just behind New England Patriots cult figure Rob Gronkowski.

And with jersey sales a clear reflection of player popularity, it would be easy for the Aussie to get carried away in the knowledge that his story may well be the most followed of any rookie this season.

But for the boy from Minto, he has been truly humbled by the feat.

Posting as photo of the jersey sales to his Instagram account, Hayne was honoured to “be alongside such great talent.”

Hayne said he saw the high demand for his jersey as a sign that fans are inspired by his journey from the NRL onto one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.

“Never thought I’d be along side such great talent. I don’t look at this as an achievement. I look at this as a result of a man who put his faith into action, which has inspired so many,” he said.

“I never set out to inspire people, I never set out to motivate people, I simply put life in perspective and leant on the only person I knew had the power to get me through this rocky road. I truly believe people buy my jersey not because of the person that wears it but because of the story/journey behind it.”

Hayne looks set to get an opportunity to add another page to the NFL chapter of his career, as injury continues to plague the 49ers stocks. However, ahead of the Cardinals game, a question mark hangs over the Australian.

Do the 49ers have enough faith in Hayne to let him play significant minutes in a regular season NFL game?

The answer will come on Sunday (6.05am Monday AEST) inside the undefeated Cardinals’ silver, UFO-like indoor University of Phoenix Stadium.

Hayne is hoping to see more game time than he did against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s a perfect venue for a punt returner like Hayne, who in a jittery debut a fortnight ago dropped his first regular season punt in strong, swirling winds at the 49ers’ outdoor Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers’ injury report lists veteran running back Reggie Bush as “doubtful” and punt returner Bruce Ellington as “questionable” for the game, possibly leaving the team short in the two positions Hayne plays.

Bush and Ellington sat out last week’s drubbing by the Pittsburgh Steelers and starting running back Carlos Hyde was sidelined for large minutes after suffering a helmet to the thigh and a blow to his head.

Despite the injuries to team-mates, Hayne was almost a spectator, with just one punt return for seven yards and two carries at running back for three yards. The two rookies who the 49ers went to instead, running back Mike Davis and returner DeAndrew White, were ineffective against the Steelers.

Davis had seven carries for only 14 yards while White had one punt return for four yards.

With the 49ers testing Davis and White and sitting Hayne last week, perhaps the best read on how the 49ers coaches rate Hayne will be how much they use him against the red hot Cardinals.

Hayne is in the interesting position of having the fifth biggest-selling NFL jersey, beating $100 million quarterbacks Aaron Rogers, Russell Wilson, Tony Romo and the 49ers’ leader, Colin Kaepernick.

But, if he is a bystander in Arizona on a team where the positions he plays are depleted by injury, the 49ers obviously have doubts whether he is ready to help them in the 2015/16 season.

— with Peter Mitchell, AAP