Quick Hits

• Tyrese Haliburton is back. The Pacers star played his first game in more than 16 months Wednesday — against the Timberwolves — scoring 7 points in 16 minutes as he returns from an Achilles injury.
• The Yankees were swept out of the playoffs. Tampa Bay finished off New York in Game 3 of their AL Division Series; the Dodgers and Brewers also advanced, while the Braves and Padres were eliminated.
• WNBA semifinals are lopsided so far. The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries both took 2-0 leads Wednesday, putting the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces on the brink of elimination.
• NFL week of shakeups: Eagles great Lane Johnson abruptly retired, and the league suspended two game officials amid a record-setting pace of penalties.
• Alex Ovechkin's farewell tour began Wednesday. The NHL's all-time goals leader played his final home opener — fittingly, against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.

Minnesota Teams

The Wolves played a supporting role in Wednesday's best feel-good story: Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, an All-NBA guard who hadn't played in over 16 months because of an Achilles injury, returned to the floor against Minnesota and put up 7 points in 16 minutes, telling reporters afterward he was "hyped" just to be out there.

As for the Vikings, they're idle until this weekend's Week 5 slate — and if you like betting angles, CBS Sports' projection model (SportsLine) lists Minnesota, along with Cincinnati, among its top picks of the week. Quiet day otherwise: nothing on the Twins, Wild, Lynx or Gophers in today's roundup.

NFL

The stunner of the week: Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson retired due to personal reasons after sitting out Week 4, ending what CBS Sports calls a legendary career in Philadelphia.

The league office also made news, suspending two officials — line judge Jeff Seeman for two games for appearing to swear at Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, and referee Adrian Hill for one game over a separate incident with players. It comes as the NFL has set a penalty record through four weeks, with coaches, players and refs increasingly at odds.

On the field, Week 5 kicks off Thursday night with a mismatch on paper: a Dallas offense CBS calls "historically efficient" against an 0-4 Tampa Bay team turning to rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels (CBS pundit Pete Prisco predicts a Cowboys rout). Injury watchers: Lamar Jackson and Ja'Marr Chase are uncertain for Sunday, while Washington's Jayden Daniels practiced fully and could return.

NBA

The WNBA playoffs are the story right now. Atlanta beat New York in Game 2 — without injured top scorer Allisha Gray — and Golden State topped Las Vegas, giving both underdogs commanding 2-0 series leads. Angel Reese was the standout, coming up clutch for the Dream, per CBS Sports. The Liberty and Aces now need to win out to survive.

MLB

October is thinning the field fast. The Rays swept the Yankees in three games, the Dodgers and Brewers punched their tickets to the next round, and the Braves and Padres were sent home. The one series still alive: Cleveland forced a Game 4 against the White Sox with a Wednesday win.

The Padres' early exit kicks off a big offseason question in San Diego, where payroll has dropped every year since owner Peter Seidler's death — though the new ownership group says it will spend what it takes to win a World Series.

NHL

It's the end of an era: Ovechkin, who passed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL's all-time goals leader, is playing his final season, and it opened at home Wednesday against Crosby's Penguins — one last chapter of the sport's best longtime rivalry.

In league news, commissioner Gary Bettman says the NHL is considering expansion, and ESPN argues Houston — big market, strong demographics — is the obvious landing spot.

College Sports

The most talked-about college football story is a cautionary tale: Penn State fired James Franklin chasing elite status, and CBS Sports says the mess of a coaching search that followed, plus a stumbling 2026 start, shows the grass isn't always greener.

On the field: Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will miss Saturday's game against UCLA as he recovers from a concussion, with Dylan Raiola expected to start. And BYU will be without running back LJ Martin — the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year — for about a month, including a big Oct. 17 top-10 clash with Notre Dame.

Other Sports

The Premier League issued a guilty verdict against Manchester City in its long-running case against the club, and ESPN reports that Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham had retained their legal rights in the matter — meaning potential fallout is just beginning. Amid the uncertainty, PSG is monitoring City midfielder Rayan Cherki, per ESPN.

Elsewhere in England: Mikel Arteta signed an Arsenal contract extension through 2030, a deal CBS Sports reports makes him the highest-paid manager in the Premier League.