Steelers and Saints play in Paris Sunday as protests close NFL House

The Steelers and Saints will play Sunday at 9:30 AM ET at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, the NFL's first regular-season game in France. League and union officials said Saturday morning that the game is on as scheduled, even after the NFL closed its NFL House fan venue in Paris ahead of street protests.

What is confirmed

The league shut NFL House on Saturday through its OnePass app, citing "potential accessibility issues," a day after closing its pop-up shop for the same reason, according to the Associated Press. The Saints pushed their Saints House event to Sunday. Earlier in the week the Steelers called off a Bastille fan event over security concerns. The State Department told Americans in Paris for the game to use caution.

None of that has changed the kickoff. Pittsburgh comes in 4-2 and New Orleans 2-4, and the game airs on NFL Network.

The injury picture

Pittsburgh lists RB Rico Dowdle (knee) as questionable after limited practices this week. S DeShon Elliott (knee) is also questionable, while CB Brandin Echols (hamstring) and WR Ben Skowronek (calf) are out. For New Orleans, RB Travis Etienne Jr. and rookie WR Jordyn Tyson remain on injured reserve with hamstring injuries, and G Cesar Ruiz (knee) is questionable.

The rest of Sunday

The Paris game is only the first wave. Baltimore has already ruled out Lamar Jackson against Cincinnati, and the Giants downgraded TE Theo Johnson to out at Houston. Sunday night, Kansas City visits Seattle without Rashee Rice, and the Seahawks have ruled out Zach Charbonnet. Seattle backup QB Drew Lock is questionable with an elbow injury.

What RSO owners should do now

Set any Steelers or Saints players tonight. If your league locks players at kickoff, a 9:30 AM start leaves little time to react to a late Dowdle scratch. If you start Dowdle, line up a fallback from a 1 PM game so you can pivot after Pittsburgh's inactives post about 90 minutes before kickoff.

What to watch next

Watch for any change to the security plan overnight and for the Steelers' inactive list Sunday morning. After that, the 1 PM inactives decide Baltimore's offense without Jackson, and the Chiefs' receiver rotation without Rice is the main question for Sunday night.