Just 11 days ago 49ers special teams co-ordinator Thomas McGaughey said Hayne "needs to learn how to play football" and "it just didn't work out".
Hayne was activated on Saturday after running back Shaun Draughn was ruled out of the Detroit game with a sprained knee.
Less than an hour before kickoff the 49ers publicly announced Kendall Gaskins or DuJuan Harris would be their starting running back.
Hayne, however, said he was going through his pre-game warm up on the Lion's indoor Ford Field when one of his coaches walked up and revealed he would start.
"I wouldn't say I was expecting it, but I was hoping for it," Hayne, who would go on to play 35 of the 49ers' 59 offensive snaps, said.
The 49ers, as they have done regularly throughout the season, imploded with offside penalties and missed tackles, spoiling a strong first half by going scoreless in the second.
Hayne had five receptions and nine carries for a combined 47 yards at running back, including an 11-yard run that set up the 49ers' first touchdown. He was not used as a punt returner.
"I thought he represented himself well," 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said.
The coach did have some criticism for Hayne, pointing out how the Australian fell short of the first down marker on a key play late in the game.
"Jarryd just has to get to the sticks," Tomsula said. "He has to run the route to the sticks."
49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert, however, was full of praise for Hayne's performance.
"Jarryd Hayne stepped up, ran hard and caught the ball in the backfield," Gabbert, who connected with Hayne on five of six passes, said.
Hayne also showed his toughness, taking a five-yard reception despite being hammered by Lions linebacker Tahir Whitehead.
On another play he was hit by another linebacker in Josh Bynes, but Hayne bounced off and kept moving forward for a three yard gain and a first down.
The 49ers' drop to a four win, 11 loss season. Hayne is expected to play in next weekend's final game against the St Louis Rams.
-AAP
