Saints’ kicker Carlson especially eager for Sunday’s game in Paris, and to get back home

PARIS (AP) — Saints kicker Daniel Carlson touched down in Paris shortly before 8 a.m. Friday morning. He was still awake enough to take part in a full team practice ahead of Sunday’s NFL debut in France against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He hopes to be back in time to see the birth of his fourth child.

“Actually, we haven’t had the baby yet,” Carlson said Friday. “Everything’s good, so we’re very happy about that. But, hopefully, get a win and have a baby after that.”

Carlson said he and his wife are “praying really hard” that he doesn’t miss the birth while he’s playing in Paris.

“But we had a green light from the doctor and everybody’s healthy, so that’s the main thing,” he said. “We’ve been doing really well and my wife’s a champ. This is our fourth kid, so we’ve gone through this a couple of times.”

The Saints (2-4) are trying Sunday to win their second in a row, after snapping a three-game losing streak last weekend with a 34-27 victory over the New York Giants in New Jersey.

The Steelers (4-2) are looking to win their third straight game, having defeated the Colts and Buccaneers the past two weeks.

Challenging weather

Very strong winds were swirling in the Paris region Friday, including in Versailles where the Saints have been training. Sunday’s forecast calls for rain in Paris that won’t let up until shortly before kickoff, set for 2:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. in New Orleans).

It means there could be some tricky conditions for Sunday’s game, but Carlson said he is fine playing in a covered stadium or an open one like Stade de France.

“Each game’s different. I’ve been able to play a couple of times here in Europe,” he said. “I’m half-Swedish and I grew up a little bit in Sweden, as well. I’m used to the cold and the wind.”

Carlson, 31, drew laughter when he jokingly described himself as a “failed” soccer player. He said he still loves watching that sport.

“I actually went to the World Cup, Sweden against France, when France obviously won,” he said, recalling France’s 3-0 win in which star forward Kylian Mbappé scored twice.

Mbappé finds out on Monday whether he has won soccer’s prestigious Ballon d’Or award for the first time. One of his main rivals is Harry Kane, a prolific scorer for World Cup semifinalist England and German giant Bayern Munich.

Kane has spoken widely of his ambition to play in the NFL one day as a kicker and Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little recently offered him a little advice.

Carlson said he thinks it can happen for Kane and others down the line.

“Brandon Aubrey with the (Dallas) Cowboys played a little in the MLS (Major League Soccer), so it’s somewhat been done,” Carlson said. “I was a failed high school soccer player, basically. Now, however many years later, I’m in year nine of my NFL career.”

Stade de France, in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, is home to France’s national soccer team.

“I always dreamed of playing in soccer stadiums around the world,” Carlson said. “Now, I get to do it in a different way.”

A taste of history

History will be made Sunday when the NFL kicks off for the first time in France.

France sold its Louisiana territories — named to honor Louis XIV — to the United States in the early 1800s. The fleur-de-lis on the Saints’ helmet, as well as similar ones on the flags of New Orleans and Louisiana, resemble what was the primary emblem of French royalty for centuries.

Injury update

Saints coach Kellen Moore listed veteran guard Cesar Ruiz and defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd as limited after Friday’s practice.

Ruiz returned after missing the past two practices with a knee injury. Shepherd was ill and resting, Moore said, without giving further details.

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