Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers backs NFL on holding game in Paris despite recent unrest

PARIS (AP) — Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Friday expressed confidence in the NFL to make security decisions around staging a game in Paris amid recent civil unrest in the city.

The Pittsburgh star spoke at a news conference inside a downtown hotel shortly after the team arrived in the capital for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France.

“I definitely think that the NFL is alert to what's going on. This game means a lot to the NFL. If it was unsafe, then I'm sure we wouldn't be here,” Rodgers said.

A morning practice for the Steelers at Stade de France was canceled because of bad weather, the team said. There was wind and light rain in Paris on Friday morning.

The Steelers flew from Pittsburgh overnight and had planned the outdoor practice at 11 a.m. local time, but it was called off 90 minutes beforehand.

Sunday’s game is going ahead despite recent civil unrest in Paris and other cities in France. More demonstrations are planned for this weekend.

The U.S. State Department late Thursday issued a security alert: “Numerous groups submitted plans for protests on Saturday, October 24. Americans in Paris for the NFL game on Sunday, October 25 should also exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings. While permits may be filed for demonstration routes, last-minute changes can happen and protests can occur outside planned routes.”

On Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that officials remain in contact with Parisian and French authorities.

“We’ve made all the preparations,” Goodell said. “Protests are not unusual in France, as you know, and that’s something that we will be aware of and make sure that the appropriate arrangements are made.”

A weekend event for Steelers fans was canceled Thursday because of security concerns.

The Saints are based in Versailles and practice at Stade Municipal Montbauron.

“Due to elevated wind and rain conditions, in accordance with local authorities, there will not be a media viewing portion during today’s Saints practice at Stade Municipal Montbauron,” the league's email to journalists said.

The Saints came to Paris directly from New York after beating the Giants last Sunday. Their hotel accommodations and practice facility are in Versailles, outside Paris.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaks during a press conference in Paris, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers leaves a press conference in Paris, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Protesters hold a banner reading : "High school students target the Bac. The Bac (Anti-Crime Brigade) target the head " as they gather against poor education school conditions in Paris, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

New Orleans Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (22) warms up during an NFL football practice session in Versailles near Paris, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

An exterior view of the Stade de France with NFL branding on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, ahead of Sunday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints. (AP Photo/Greg Payan)

LONDON (AP) — High winds knocked out power to thousands of people in southwest England on Friday morning as the first of two major storms expected to hit the U.K. this weekend swept in from the Atlantic.

The U.K. Met Office issued an amber warning — the second highest — for wind gusts up to 80 mph (130 kph) in Cornwall and Devon as the storm named Austen by the agency moved into the area early Friday.

According to the National Grid, which distributes electricity around the U.K., more than 16,000 homes were without power in the southwest by late morning.

Winds up to 60 mph (100 kph) are forecast across southern and central England throughout the day as the storm moves eastward along the English Channel coast.

With heavy rain forecast in some areas and the likelihood that high winds will topple trees that are still in full leaf, the Met Office warned of further power outages and travel disruptions.

Weather forecasters on Jersey issued a red warning — the highest — for shipping around the Channel Islands, with wind gusts of up to 80 mph expected in the area.

A second major storm — Boelo — is expected to bring more wind and heavy rains to northern parts of the U.K. later in the weekend.

The Met Office updated its warning for Boelo from yellow to amber for Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England on Saturday night and throughout Sunday.

With winds gusting up to 65 mph (105 kph), forecasters are warning of further power cuts, transportation delays and the risk of building damage and flying debris.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned of the potential of more weather events that could lead to flooding this winter as he attended a summit organized to learn from the summer’s record wildfires.

“We potentially are facing a winter of greater flooding, so it’s about recognizing all of those risks and taking action," he said.

His comments come a day after the government launched a campaign urging Britons to prepare for an array of events, connected to such things as climate change, technological disruptions and actions by a hostile state. One of the key recommendations of the “Be Ready” campaign is that people stockpile supplies of food and essentials in case of multi-day emergencies.

The Met Office began naming major storms in 2015 as a way to keep the public informed about severe weather. Storms are named in alphabetical order throughout the season, which runs from September to the following August.

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks during the inaugural Wildfires '27 Resilience Summit on strengthening community preparedness, at the National Resilience Centre of Excellence, in Aintree, England, Friday Oct. 23, 2026. (Temilade Adelaja/Pool Photo via AP)

A banner advising against swimming on the beach at Black Rock in Brighton, England, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Jamie Lashmar/PA via AP)

Waves crash on to the beach at Black Rock in Brighton, England, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Jamie Lashmar/PA via AP)