Fergus McFadden is named on the bench just days after being called into the squad.
Schmidt took the unusual decision of delaying his team announcement until after Thursday's training.
"We were just trying to clarify the fitness of Simon Zebo and Keith Earls, both of whom we have left out of the squad," Schmidt said.
"They got through training and at the same time we just felt they weren't 100 per cent fit. We just felt it was a risk.
"That's the latest selection and change we've had to make. Normally we would name the match squad before training, and everyone would be fully fit and have absolute clarity on what their role was and where they were training.
Schmidt felt Ireland had little option but to delay their selection while sweating on Zebo and Earls, only for both wingers to fail in their fitness bids.
"There's nothing worse than having someone replaced early in the game who wasn't potentially fully fit.
"And having someone come off the bench who isn't fully fit isn't probably the best thing to do when you're going to Paris.
"Simon Zebo was just a little bit sore and couldn't stretch out his knee fully.
Ireland - Six Nations
"Keith Earls will probably complete the last step of his HIA (head injury assessment) tomorrow, but we have to name a team today.
"It's one of those things with a six-day turnaround, particularly when you're travelling.
"If we had another day at home we could hedge our bets a little bit, but we have to get on a plane at 3.15 this afternoon, and we've got to take the players that are available to play."
France, meanwhile, have made six changes from their opening weekend win over Italy. Props Jefferson Poirot and Uini Atonio, lock Alexandre Flanquart, flanker Yacouba Camara, centre Maxime Mermoz and winger Teddy Thomas come into the team.
Six nations history
- Telegraph