The Pittsburgh Steelers arrived in Paris, France, on Friday morning ahead of Sunday’s upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints. While the team had originally scheduled a walkthrough at Stade de France upon arrival, inclement weather forced a change in plans. Instead, the team headed straight to their hotel, holding media availability while forgoing practice for the day.
Injury concerns have dominated the buildup to Sunday’s international matchup. Linebacker T.J. Watt appeared on the injury report on Thursday due to a calf issue and was listed as limited that day, though he carries no designation regarding his game status for the weekend. Head coach Mike McCarthy dismissed concerns about Watt’s availability when questioned during Friday’s press conference, noting that the team had just completed a long flight and would evaluate players ahead of Saturday’s final practice.
Meanwhile, safety DeShon Elliott is listed as questionable for Sunday after participating fully in practice throughout the week as he works his way back from the Reserve/Injured List. McCarthy praised Elliott’s leadership and perseverance following a lengthy recovery process, indicating that a definitive roster decision regarding his activation would be made following Saturday’s session.
The defensive line faces significant personnel hurdles following the placement of defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day on the Reserve/Injured List, joining Derrick Harmon, who is also sidelined on IR. Defensive lineman Benton emphasized the next-man-up mentality required to compensate for the loss of veteran experience on the line, pointing to young players like rookies Gabriel Rubio and Kevin Jobity Jr. Rubio has seen increased playing time in Harmon’s absence, while Jobity continues working toward his potential NFL debut.
Offensively, the team deals with its own set of absences at wide receiver, with Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr. on the Reserve/Injured List and Ben Skowronek already ruled out. The receiving corps has leaned heavily on young talent such as rookie Germie Bernard, who recently recorded 11 receptions for 87 yards and caught a six-yard game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers in overtime to secure a 26-19 victory against Tampa Bay.
To bolster depth following these losses, the Steelers recently signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad. Valdes-Scantling previously spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys this season, appearing in three games with two catches for 22 yards for Los Angeles. He also spent time with Pittsburgh in 2025, appearing in five games with one start, totaling 10 receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft at 174th overall, Valdes-Scantling has accumulated 221 receptions for 3,708 yards and 21 touchdowns across 119 career games, including stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints. McCarthy expressed familiarity with the veteran wideout from their shared time in Green Bay and noted that Valdes-Scantling performed well in practice upon his return, though a final decision regarding his availability for Sunday has not yet been finalized.
