The Pittsburgh Steelers are the last team to set off for Paris. They practiced in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, hold a full workout on Thursday and then board a charter for France on Thursday evening, three days before they play the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France. Mike McCarthy, in his first season as their head coach, has never taken a team to a regular-season game abroad, but he has been on a trip like this before.
Asked before Wednesday’s practice about the American Bowl games the Kansas City Chiefs played in Tokyo in 1994 and 1998, when he was on their staff, McCarthy went back three decades. “Goodness, that was a long time ago,” he said. “Tokyo was 138 degrees heat index … but it was a fun trip. It was preseason, so I think that definitely helped.”
“This is different”
“The first time, we went for like a week, and everybody got to enjoy the culture, Japan and Tokyo,” McCarthy said. “The second one was earlier and a little quick. I thought it was great for the team camaraderie and the group dynamic, really, to do things away from football with your players and as a staff.”
“But this is different. We’re playing a game in Paris on a normal seven-day week, so you have to be smart on when you travel, how you travel, what exactly you do when you get over there, the amount of sleep,” he said. “You’re trying to get extra sleep for the guys going into it — obviously, hydration, all the basics and so forth. Doing this trip on a seven-day schedule, I’ll say it’s different because I’ve never done it. I think it’s all part of the challenge playing internationally.”
The Saints flew to France straight after their win over the Giants and have been based in Versailles since Monday. McCarthy said the Steelers looked at doing the same after their overtime win in Tampa Bay but chose to stay home. “I think having the extra time was needed [with] overtime [against Tampa Bay] and all the things that play into that, playing in the weather down there in Florida,” he said. “So it was real important, on the front end of this — regardless of who we’re playing — to get these guys to make sure they get their bodies back and focus.” Pittsburgh used the same Thursday-night plan for its game in Dublin last season.
“Go over there and come back 5-2”
McCarthy said he knows what is going on in France and has confidence in the security plan. “Traveling’s stressful, whether we’re going to Tampa or going across the Atlantic. Those are the things I’m in touch with, just to make sure we’re making this as smooth and as safe as we possibly can,” he said. “They have confidence in our plan, and we’re obviously doing all the little things that help us prepare, because the most important thing for us, professionally, is to go over there and come back 5-2.” The Steelers are 4–2 and have won two straight. The Saints are 2–4.
Valdes-Scantling joins, and the receiver room is thin
Pittsburgh signed receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad on Tuesday, a reunion with McCarthy, who coached him as a rookie in Green Bay, and with Aaron Rodgers. “Number one, it’s great to see him,” McCarthy said. “I had him as a youngster when he came out.” Asked whether Valdes-Scantling could play on Sunday, he said: “We’ll see. We’ve got an abbreviated practice here today and a full one before we go tomorrow, so we’ll see what happens.” Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are on injured reserve, and Ben Skowronek missed Wednesday’s practice with a calf injury.
McCarthy also said safety DeShon Elliott, who was designated to return from injured reserve on Oct. 8, is “chomping at the bit.” The team released safety Rayshawn Jenkins before practice.
- Did not practice: CB Jalen Ramsey (wrist), WR Ben Skowronek (calf), CB Brandin Echols (hamstring), DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (triceps), LB T.J. Watt (rest), DT Cameron Heyward (rest)
- Limited: RB Rico Dowdle (knee), LB Alex Highsmith (groin)
- Full: S DeShon Elliott (knee, designated to return from IR)
On the other side, Kellen Moore, who coached under McCarthy in Dallas, said in Versailles on Wednesday that kicker Daniel Carlson is still in the United States awaiting the birth of a child and should arrive in time for the game. Our Saints practice report has the rest, and our curfew report covers the overnight restrictions in central Paris.
What comes next (Cairo time)
- Thursday, October 22: the PSG x Saints merchandise capsule goes on sale; the Steelers hold a full practice in Pittsburgh and fly to France in the evening
- Friday, October 23: NFL House opens at Pavillon Cambon Capucines; PSG’s Hail Mary over the Seine; the Steelers arrive and practice
- Saturday, October 24: the Saints walk through at the Stade de France; Saints House pop-up at Pavillon Vendôme
- Sunday, October 25, 4:30 p.m.: Steelers vs. Saints at the Stade de France (2:30 p.m. in Paris; clocks in France go back an hour early on Sunday morning)
How the league got to the Stade de France is in our interactive Paris timeline.
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