Travis Hunter is the NFL’s new two-face experiment. On one side, he’s a wide receiver, running routes and trying to carve out space. Flip him over, and he’s a cornerback, shadowing opponents and breaking up passes. In a league where specialization rules, Hunter’s dual-role ambition is as bold as it is rare. Through two games, he’s seen 61% of Jacksonville’s offensive snaps and 37% on defense, but the numbers tell a story. Nine catches for 55 yards, one first down, zero interceptions, and just three combined tackles. The flash is there, but the impact? Not yet. Texans HC DeMeco Ryans isn’t losing sleep over it.

“For Travis, we play, we have to do us better,” Ryans said after September 17 practice before the Week 3 game against the Jaguars. “It’s not us just singling out one player. He’s definitely part of what they do, and they will try to feature him. But we don’t overextend ourselves to try to chase ghosts or anything.” Ryans’ philosophy is simple: contain what matters and execute. No one player should bend your defensive structure, no matter how unique or flashy.

DeMeco Ryans acknowledged Hunter’s talent, though. The coach won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2006. So, these words carry real weight. “He aligns all over the place. They’re going to find ways of getting him the ball. We just have to play sound in what we do defensively. When they put him at corner, he made a really nice play breaking up a pass. You see why he was drafted where he was drafted. Impact at both Jackson State and Colorado. Outstanding young man, outstanding player. It’s really cool to see a guy play both sides of the ball in the NFL.”

But here’s the kicker, Hunter’s stats underline the reality. Ryans isn’t worried because he knows football is bigger than hype. It’s about fundamentals, execution, and making the plays you’re supposed to make.

Hunter can make headlines, but Ryans knows the tape doesn’t lie; talent alone doesn’t win games.

DeMeco Ryans is confident of coming out of adversity

When DeMeco Ryans arrived in Houston as the Texans’ head coach in 2023, he carried a dream that had eluded him as a player — winning a Super Bowl. His playing career was a testament to excellence and consistency. From 2006 to 2015, Ryans played 140 games, recording 970 tackles, 45 passes defended, 7 interceptions, and 13.5 sacks. He was a force in the middle of the defense, a player opponents couldn’t ignore, but the ultimate championship still slipped through his fingers. Coaching was his second chance, a way to channel all that talent and experience into building a winning team.

Yet, the start in Houston wasn’t kind. In both 2023 and 2025, DeMeco Ryans’ squads stumbled out of the gate, opening the season 0-2. But the former star linebacker refuses to let early losses define the narrative. “2023 seems so long ago. I think it’s very similar when we’re in the same spot, I believe,” Ryans said. “We went 0-2, going to face Jacksonville, I think, for the third game, if I remember correctly. Kind of the same spot we’re in here. But it’s just different circumstances, different team.”

However, there’s something that changes for Ryans. Last year, the Texans started on a winning note, winning both games in the first two games. But they lost the Week 3 game. So, the momentum shift is around the corner.

DeMeco Ryans’ approach is about perspective and growth. Every roster is unique, and every season comes with its own hurdles. “Each year, your team has to grow, and you have to grow through some things,” he explained. “That adversity, what is it building amongst your team? Is it building that resilience and the resolve that you need to sustain throughout the season?” To him, football mirrors life, no single loss, no single bad moment, can dictate your story. And his message was grounded and unshakable.

For Ryans, adversity isn’t a wall, it’s a stepping stone. And with his history as a player who never quit, he knows exactly how to turn setbacks into momentum.