In Jarryd Hayne's eyes, gaining experience on gameday is not solely determined by touches.
So although the Australian did not appear on the stat sheet in nine offensive snaps against the Baltimore Ravens, he still felt like his maturation process continued.
"For me, it's about going out there and learning and being grateful for the opportunity," Hayne said. "You have to remember that this was my (sixth) game. It's a learning curve, but every week I feel more and more comfortable."
Hayne did return one punt for four yards, but he fumbled on the play while fighting for extra yards and being tackled from behind. Fortunately for Hayne, cornerback Dontae Johnson recovered the loose ball.
"The most dangerous man is the man you don't see," he said. "I know that, and for myself, it was a risky play. I had just fended someone off and just should've had more ball security."
Through Week 6, Hayne ranks 15th in the NFL in punt-return average at 9.5 yards. He's also carried the ball eight times for 25 yards and caught one pass for seven yards.
"It's everything I expected," Hayne said. "You can prepare and you can study as much as you want, but gameday intensity is different. For me, I've embraced every challenge and tried to be ready whenever my name is called."
This week, Hayne will look to make his mark on one of the NFL's most heated rivalries. Last year after announcing his decision to quit rugby league, Hayne visited the Seattle and watched a Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field.
Seattle was one of several reported teams that competed with the 49ers for Hayne's services.
"It's really cool to see that he's playing, he's contributing and he's a factor in the games," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said on a conference call Tuesday. "He's done some really good stuff."
Regardless of his in-game workload moving forward, Hayne won't change his goal of soaking up as much knowledge as he can. He is, after all, still a rookie.
"For me, I feel confident in everything I do and everything that's been thrown at me," Hayne said. "But I still have to study and be prepared. If I do that, then everything will work out for itself."
