GLENDALE, Ariz. -- On a largely forgettable afternoon for the San Francisco 49ers, Jarryd Hayne delivered perhaps the team's most memorable play.

Approaching the end of the second quarter on Sunday, the first-year return man lined up at his own 30-yard line awaiting an Arizona Cardinals punt. The kick from Drew Butler was short and didn't have much hangtime, so Hayne caught the punt on the run near midfield.

With a lane open to his right, the Australian sped down the sideline and avoided several would-be tacklers before finally being forced out of bounds at the Cardinals 19-yard line.

"I had an opportunity, and I wanted to make the most of it," Hayne said postgame. "I obviously lost my footing at the end there. I wish I would've stayed up, but it wasn't meant to be."

All said, Hayne's lone touch of the day went for 37 yards. The field-flipping play also set up the 49ers only score, which came three plays later on a Colin Kaepernick 12-yard touchdown run.

"Like I keep saying every week, I'm just living and learning," Hayne said. "For me, that has been my mentality and that will be my mentality. I just want to get better every week and help the team however I can."

San Francisco went on to lose the game, 47-7, for the team's second defeat in a row. Hayne said he has dealt with adversity before and is confident that the 49ers will rebound moving forward.

"It's just about working hard and everyone sticking solid," Hayne said. "There's no doubt we'll get through it."