The San Francisco 49ers appear reluctant to give Jarryd Hayne another chance to play a game this season, with one coach declaring the Australian "needs to learn how to play football".
Coach Jim Tomsula sidestepped a question on Wednesday about whether he was curious about promoting Hayne from the practice squad.
Special teams co-ordinator Thomas McGaughey was more blunt, telling reporters Hayne needed time on the practice squad to become acquainted with the intricacies of the game.
"He just needs to learn the game from the inside out," McGaughey told reporters.
The 49ers may not have a choice but to play the former rugby league star against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The team's running back corps continues to be savaged by injury, with Hayne's replacement Kendall Gaskins suffering a concussion in last weekend's woeful loss to the last-placed Cleveland Browns.
Tomsula, when asked about Hayne's potential promotion back into the 53-man squad, said he did not want to discuss potential roster moves.
Instead, he talked up the prospects of Gaskins passing the NFL's concussion protocol and playing the Bengals.
This is despite Tomsula saying Gaskins would sit out Wednesday's practice.
"By the way, Kendall did look good today," Tomsula said.
Tomsula was not overly enthusiastic about Hayne when he did briefly talk about the Australian at the end of his answer.
"We see Jarryd in practice," Tomsula said.
"He's practising very hard."
If Gaskins is ruled out, the 49ers, who take three running backs into each game, have just Shaun Draughn and Travaris Cadet healthy in their 53-man squad.
Hayne had a sensational pre-season but dropped three punts in his six regular season games and at running back made errors in protecting the quarterback.
McGaughey said on the practice squad Hayne replicates opposing players to prepare the team for each week's games, so he plays linebacker, safety or other positions rather than his regular running back and punt return positions.
McGaughey said that helps Hayne learn the game.
"Obviously, from what he did in the pre-season, he did some good stuff," McGaughey said.
"He put some good stuff on tape and we thought he had skills enough to be a punt returner ... it just didn't work out."
With a four win, nine loss record and just three games left, the 49ers have no chance of making the playoffs and have the worst-ranked offence in the NFL.
Hayne still leads the 49ers in punt returns with an average of 9.5 yards per return and long of 37 yards, ahead of his replacement Bruce Ellington.
At running back Hayne has averaged 3.1 yards per carry, ahead of Gaskins (2.2 yards), Davis (one yard), Cadet (2.4) and just below the team's number one option Draughn (3.4).
