New Orleans Saints Focus on Paris Matchup as Players Brush Off Local Security Concerns
The New Orleans Saints have embraced the sights and cultural experiences of Paris this week, balancing tourist excursions and local outings with rigorous preparations for their upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France on Sunday. Despite recent civil unrest across parts of the French capital that prompted localized curfews in affected areas, the squad has made the most of its early Monday arrival.
From visiting the Eiffel Tower to taking in a Paris Saint-Germain soccer match, team members have been immersing themselves in the city. Wide receiver Devaughn Vele noted his enthusiasm for sampling local cuisine throughout the week. Reflecting on a group outing to see the landmark, Vele expressed how much the roster was enjoying the journey after Wednesday’s practice, describing it as an awesome experience with a beautiful culture and beautiful people.
City workers cleared debris and store owners repaired shattered windows and security gates on Wednesday following weekend disturbances in parts of Paris. However, players reported no issues during their outings. Defensive end Cam Jordan noted that he did not see anything related to property damage when visiting a flag football clinic near the Eiffel Tower. The Pittsburgh Steelers are slated to arrive in the French capital early Friday.
A key highlight for several players was attending Tuesday night’s Champions League fixture, where Paris Saint-Germain earned a 4-2 win against Barcelona. Safety Justin Reid, who grew up playing soccer, admitted he wished some games in the United States shared a similar environment, calling the match the highlight of his trip. Addressing concerns surrounding recent street protests, Reid stated that none of the players have any worries and noted that the NFL has provided full security coverage. Reid also planned to visit the Palace of Versailles later in the week.
On the roster front, head coach Kellen Moore confirmed that kicker Daniel Carlson remained in the United States for family matters as they await the birth of a child. Moore stated that they have talked through the situation and expect Carlson to arrive shortly. If Carlson is unavailable for Sunday’s contest, the Saints can elevate Charlie Smyth from the practice squad.
Meanwhile, guard Cesar Ruiz missed practice with a knee injury suffered against the Giants, leaving his status listed as day to day. Rookie Jeremiah Wright filled in for Ruiz during that contest. General manager Mickey Loomis also discussed wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and will miss practice this week. The 2026 first-round draft pick, selected at No. 8 overall, has yet to make his NFL debut.
Defending the selection, Loomis addressed the setback by clarifying that the current injury is not the same as the one Tyson suffered previously, though he acknowledged it is unfortunate that it happened at the very beginning of his career. With a bye week following Sunday’s matchup before hosting Cleveland in Week 9, Moore offered no firm guarantees regarding Tyson facing the Browns, stating that nothing is locked in yet.
Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry also provided an update after exiting last week’s game against the Giants. Initially attributed to a concussion-like headache, McKinstry clarified on Wednesday that it was more like a sinus issue that impacted his sight. He suspected the issue stemmed from a bug that affected several players across the team while they were under the weather.
