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.