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DURHAM, NC − Tennessee basketball point guard Terrence Hill Jr. went down with an injury early in the first half of the Vols' exhibition game at Duke on Oct. 20.

Hill was dribbling up the court after a made basket and took a spill while trying to set up the offense at the 15:22 mark of the first half. He was grabbing at his left ankle as he went down and had to be helped off the floor by two Vols assistants.

Hill, a transfer from VCU, is unlikely to return to the game, per a Tennessee spokesperson.

Hill was making his first start with the Vols and was replaced by Troy Henderson.

The No. 9 Vols trailed No. 2 Duke 14-2 as Hill went to the locker room. He had scored two points on a pair of free throws before exiting the game.

Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Injury update on Terrence Hill Jr., point guard for Tennessee basketball

The Washington Commanders got bad, but not unexpected, news on Tuesday when Terry McLaurin was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn left patellar tendon.

Coach Dan Quinn confirmed the injury during a news conference the afternoon after his team's 23-17 loss to the 49ers. When asked about what's next for his team's receiving group, Quinn said he hadn't gotten that far down the road yet.

“We do have a deep crew at that position, and we'll lean in on a number of the guys to find some of the unique roles that Terry does,” Quinn said.

McLaurin had one catch for 27 yards before he was injured in the first quarter against the 49ers. His absence leaves the last-place Commanders (1-4-1) in a tough spot.

Washington will need to get more production out of veteran Stefon Diggs, rookie Antonio Williams and Treylon Burks. Diggs had six catches for 44 yards and a touchdown against the Niners, and Williams had three receptions for 50 yards.

The Commanders have issues at running back, too. Jacory Croskey-Merritt was placed on injured reserve just before kickoff on Monday, leaving Rachaad White (seven carries) and Jeremy McNichols (five) to split time in the backfield. Austin Ekeler had just one carry.

Washington is likely to use a similar by-committee approach to replace its captain and top receiver.

What’s working

Rookie first-round pick Sonny Styles led both teams Monday with 13 tackles. The linebacker has been stellar in coverage and flashed against the 49ers with a pass breakup against Mike Evans.

Styles leads the team with 46 tackles and has been one of the bright spots on a defense that ranks 26th in the league in yards allowed per play.

What needs help

Penalties. While the Commanders committed seven penalties for 66 yards on Monday, they came at crucial moments.

Those included an illegal shift on a fourth down in the second quarter when the Commanders were trailing 13-3. A game-tying touchdown was called back in the fourth quarter because of a facemask penalty on Chris Paul. With 21 seconds left and the Commanders at the 49ers 28, Daniels was pressured and was flagged for intentional grounding.

Such mistakes, both before and after the snap, have been an issue all season.

Stock up

Chig Okonkwo. After a strong performance last week against the Giants, the tight end led the team with seven catches for 69 yards. His role could only expand in McLaurin's absence.

Stock down

Once again, situational awareness. In the first half Monday, Daniels threw the ball away on fourth down rather than to a receiver. ESPN cameras captured Quinn seemingly confused about what down it was, although Quinn said after the game he was fully aware of the situation.

Regardless, it brought back fresh memories of how Quinn, Daniels and the Commanders botched the final seconds of a tie against the Giants a week earlier.

Injuries

McLaurin isn't the only injured Washington receiver. Burks left the game with an unspecified injury in the fourth quarter. Quinn said he'd have updates next week on him and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (knee).

Key number

30.9% — Washington is the second-worst team in the league on third down, ahead of only Cleveland (30.8%). The Commanders went 3 of 12 on third down against the 49ers.

Up next

After a bye this week, the Commanders host the Eagles on Nov. 1.

___

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Credit: Reuters/Sergio Moraes

To absolutely no one’s surprise, the NFL is looking to further expand its international footprint next season.

At a press conference ahead of the league’s first-ever regular-season game in France this Sunday, NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly told reporters that the league is considering scheduling 10 international games next season, which would be the maximum allowable under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement.

O’Reilly says the NFL is considering going up to 10 international games next season, the max allowed by the current CBA with the players.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 20, 2026

This season, the NFL is scheduled to play nine games in international markets, so the jump from nine to 10 wouldn’t be all that dramatic. But after playing five international contests in each season from 2022 to 2024, and then seven international games in 2025, the NFL’s international schedule is expanding at a fast pace.

Of course, this is all part of the NFL’s long-term plan to create a full-season slate of international games to sell to a broadcast partner. That would require the players to agree to amend the CBA should the league want to roll that out prior to 2031, when the current agreement with the players expires. Ideally, the league would likely want to have the full international schedule in place before then, so it can bring the package to market alongside the rest of its inventory following the 2029-30 season, when it can exit most of its current broadcast deals. The full-season international slate is often discussed in conjunction with an expansion to 18 regular-season games, which would also need to be approved by the players.

As the NFL adds international games, audiences for the Sunday afternoon pregame shows on Fox and CBS continue to dwindle. For European kickoffs, which begin in the morning in the United States, viewers often choose to watch the ongoing live game over studio programming leading into the 1 p.m. ET slate. Each additional European international game is also one fewer game that Fox and CBS can include in their Sunday afternoon windows, further diluting their packages (and not to mention Sunday Ticket).

The NFL views international markets as the key to future growth as the domestic market continues to mature. That’s why many view an expanded international schedule as a question of when, not if. And next year, it looks like the league will max out on such affairs.

The post NFL considering maximum allowable number of international games next season, exec says appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Aaron Rodgers are teaming up again.

But that's not the only reunion. Valdes-Scantling is also reuniting with his first NFL head coach, Mike McCarthy.

Three days after Valdes-Scantling was released by the Los Angeles Chargers, it didn't take the former Green Bay Packers wide receiver long to find a new home.

He signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad on Oct. 20.

On paper it appears to be a strong match again. Valdes-Scantling needed a new team. And Rodgers' Pittsburgh Steelers were in need of a deep threat and another option in the passing game for a middling offense six weeks into the season.

It's the second straight year that Valdes-Scantling has reunited with Rodgers on the Steelers. The two spent four years together in Green Bay and developed a strong rapport.

Last season, Valdes-Scantling played in the team's final five games after spending about a month on the team's practice squad.

He had 120 yards on 14 receptions and one touchdown in the regular season. And in the Steelers’ wild-card playoff loss Valdes-Scantling had three catches for 26 yards.

Valdes-Scantling spent the first four years of his career with the Packers, playing in 59 games and starting 39. His return to the Steelers is also a reunion with McCarthy, who was the Packers' head coach in 2018 when Green Bay selected Valdes-Scantling in the fifth round out of South Florida. McCarthy is in his first season as the coach of the Steelers.

Valdes-Scantling had a career-high 690 yards and six touchdowns in the 2020 season when the Packers had the league’s top-ranked scoring offense.

After the 2021 season, Valdes-Scantling departed in free agency and won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and 2023. He then split the 2024 season with the Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints.

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Valdes-Scantling began last season with the San Francisco 49ers before he was released and finished out the year in Pittsburgh.

Valdes-Scantling, 32, spent this past offseason with the Dallas Cowboys but was released during roster cuts at the end of training camp. He signed to the Chargers’ practice squad a couple weeks later and was promoted to the active roster ahead of the team's Week 3 game.

He played in three games for the winless Chargers with limited production. Valdes-Scantling had the first two catches of his season for 22 yards in the team's Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 11.

The Chargers released Valdes-Scantling on Oct. 17.

He'll join a 4-2 Steelers team in which he has familiarity but also one that needs a jolt. Pittsburgh has the 21st-ranked offense and 18th-ranked passing offense.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: One of Aaron Rodgers' favorite wide receivers returns to Pittsburgh

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Aaron Rodgers are teaming up again.

But that's not the only reunion. Valdes-Scantling is also reuniting with his first NFL head coach, Mike McCarthy.

Three days after Valdes-Scantling was released by the Los Angeles Chargers, it didn't take the former Green Bay Packers wide receiver long to find a new home.

He signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad on Oct. 20.

On paper it appears to be a strong match again. Valdes-Scantling needed a new team. And Rodgers' Pittsburgh Steelers were in need of a deep threat and another option in the passing game for a middling offense six weeks into the season.

It's the second straight year that Valdes-Scantling has reunited with Rodgers on the Steelers. The two spent four years together in Green Bay and developed a strong rapport.

Last season, Valdes-Scantling played in the team's final five games after spending about a month on the team's practice squad.

He had 120 yards on 14 receptions and one touchdown in the regular season. And in the Steelers’ wild-card playoff loss Valdes-Scantling had three catches for 26 yards.

Valdes-Scantling spent the first four years of his career with the Packers, playing in 59 games and starting 39. His return to the Steelers is also a reunion with McCarthy, who was the Packers' head coach in 2018 when Green Bay selected Valdes-Scantling in the fifth round out of South Florida. McCarthy is in his first season as the coach of the Steelers.

Valdes-Scantling had a career-high 690 yards and six touchdowns in the 2020 season when the Packers had the league’s top-ranked scoring offense.

After the 2021 season, Valdes-Scantling departed in free agency and won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and 2023. He then split the 2024 season with the Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints.

Shop Packers tickets on StubHub

Valdes-Scantling began last season with the San Francisco 49ers before he was released and finished out the year in Pittsburgh.

Valdes-Scantling, 32, spent this past offseason with the Dallas Cowboys but was released during roster cuts at the end of training camp. He signed to the Chargers’ practice squad a couple weeks later and was promoted to the active roster ahead of the team's Week 3 game.

He played in three games for the winless Chargers with limited production. Valdes-Scantling had the first two catches of his season for 22 yards in the team's Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 11.

The Chargers released Valdes-Scantling on Oct. 17.

He'll join a 4-2 Steelers team in which he has familiarity but also one that needs a jolt. Pittsburgh has the 21st-ranked offense and 18th-ranked passing offense.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: One of Aaron Rodgers' favorite wide receivers returns to Pittsburgh

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Paul George sets new Celtics record in season-opening loss vs. Pistons appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Celtics dropped their first game of the 2026-27 NBA season, but Paul George just made a huge statement in his debut for the storied franchise.

The 36-year-old George put on a vintage performance in his first regular-season game in Celtics threads in Boston’s 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

By the time he scored 31 points in the game, he had already set a new franchise record for most points by a player in his debut for the Celtics, according to the NBA Communications account on X, formerly Twitter.

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The previous record was held by former Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis, who had 30 points in his first game with Boston back in 2023.

George, who was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers along with some picks to the Celtics in July in exchange for forward Jaylen Brown, finished with 38 points on 12-for-21 shooting from the floor, including a 7-for-12 line from behind the arc, while adding five rebounds, five steals and three assists, and he did all that in only 31 minutes.

Despite Boston’s loss, the nine-time NBA All-Star George must have given Celtics fans more reason to believe in the team, thanks to his explosive showing against the Pistons, who had to overcome a 22-point deficit to steal the win.

Jayson Tatum didn’t have a great 2026-27 debut, as the former Duke Blue Devils star struggled with his shot all game long, going 6-for-23 from the field while missing all of his seven attempts from deep for 13 points. Tatum added 11 assists.

Paul George and the Celtics will try to get their first win of the season again on Friday, when they host the reigning NBA champions New York Knicks at TD Garden in Boston.

Related: Joe Mazulla’s 4-word reaction to Paul George’s 38-point Celtics debut will have fans hyped

Related: Celtics end 38-game streak with unlikely loss to the Pistons

The New England Patriots got encouraging injury news on cornerback Carlton Davis III on Tuesday before their matchup against the Bears. Getty

Carlton Davis III returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since aggravating his neck injury, opening a path to Thursday’s Bears game. With the Patriots‘ injury list growing and a short week to prepare, Davis’ status will shape how the secondary defends a sharp Caleb Williams. Davis stepped onto the practice field in his jersey and participated in at least the warm-up period, according to ESPN‘s Mike Reiss.

He was listed as a non-participant with a neck injury on Monday’s estimated walkthrough report, according to the Patriots’ official injury report. Davis played in the Week 1 loss at Seattle, then missed practice all week and sat out the home opener against Pittsburgh, according to Boston.com. He played all 59 defensive snaps in the Week 4 win at Buffalo on Oct. 4 and aggravated the injury, then sat out Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders and Week 6 against the New York Jets, according to Reiss. RotoWire had projected an Oct. 22 return, the date of the Bears game.

Read More From Heavy

Patriots Castoff Joe Milton Gets Career News After Disturbing Jalen Hurts Update

Patriots Pass Defense Without Davis

Davis has missed three of New England’s first six games, and the Patriots rank fourth in the NFL in points allowed at 18.8 per game. New England sits 10th in passing yardage allowed at 205.4 per game. Charles Woods has started in Davis’ place and intercepted the first pass of his NFL career late in Sunday’s 26-19 win over the Jets, according to Patriots On SI.

“He’s been playing good football all year. He’s a starting corner in this league,” safety Kevin Byard said of Woods, as quoted by Patriots On SI. Cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez, Karon Prunty and Channing Canada also have dealt with injuries in recent weeks. Davis ranks eighth among 102 qualifying cornerbacks with a 78.1 overall grade and seventh in coverage at 79.6, according to Pro Football Focus data. Opposing quarterbacks have posted an 86.8 passer rating when targeting him. He has 16 solo tackles, 11 receptions allowed and one pass breakup.

Read More From Heavy

Patriots Announce Offensive Line Decision After Jets Injury Disaster

Patriots Plan for Caleb Williams With Davis

Williams returned last week from a hamstring injury and completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown without an interception in Chicago’s 31-23 win over Atlanta, according to The Athletic. Williams has thrown for 712 yards and three touchdowns with a 101.5 rating in three games this season, according to CBS Sports. Davis is New England’s second outside corner behind Christian Gonzalez. Davis, 29, is 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds, according to Pro Football Focus. Tampa Bay selected the Auburn product 63rd overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers after the 2020 season, when he intercepted a career-high four passes, according to NBC Sports Boston. Tampa Bay traded him to the Detroit Lions in 2024 for a third-round pick. He signed with New England in March 2025 on a three-year, $60 million contract that includes $34.5 million guaranteed, according to ESPN‘s Adam Schefter.

Read More From Heavy

Patriots Get Encouraging Carlton Davis III News Before Jaguars Game

This article was originally published on HEAVY

The post Patriots Get Encouraging Carlton Davis III Injury Update Before Bears Game appeared first on HEAVY.

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Brandon McManus is latest signing in Rams’ kicker carousel appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Rams are signing veteran kicker Brandon McManus, their third kicker of the 2026 NFL season.

The move follows Blake Grupe’s torn ACL during Sunday’s 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.

McManus, 35, worked out Tuesday alongside free-agent kicker Matt Prater as Los Angeles addressed its special-teams problems.

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The Rams are 2-4 after six games and hope the veteran can bring stability to the position.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared details of the agreement Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter, citing information gathered alongside fellow insider Mike Garafolo.

“The #Rams are signing veteran kicker Brandon McManus, per me and @MikeGarafolo, the latest in Los Angeles’ kicker saga. He worked out today, along with FA K Matt Prater.

McManus most recently kicked for the #Packers and #Broncos.”

The #Rams are signing veteran kicker Brandon McManus, per me and @MikeGarafolo, the latest in Los Angeles’ kicker saga. He worked out today, along with FA K Matt Prater.

McManus most recently kicked for the #Packers and #Broncos. pic.twitter.com/eyzO9QmQjt

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 20, 2026

The Rams opened the season with Harrison Mevis, who made five of nine field-goal attempts before Los Angeles released him after its Week 5 overtime loss to Buffalo.

Grupe replaced Mevis and made a 44-yard field goal in his Rams debut. However, he injured his knee attempting a tackle on the ensuing kickoff return and was placed on injured reserve.

McManus brings 12 NFL seasons of experience and a Super Bowl 50 championship with the Broncos. He has made 297 of 362 career field goals, an 82% success rate, along with 374 of 384 extra points.

Last season with the Packers, McManus converted 24 of 30 field goals and 32 of 33 extra points. The Packers released him in May after drafting Trey Smack.

The deal reportedly remains contingent on a physical. If completed, McManus would become the Rams’ third kicker this season ahead of their Week 7 road game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Related: Rams’ Davante Adams officially undergoes surgery to repair ruptured hamstring

Related: Kurt Warner pinpoints 1 major flaw leading to Rams’ struggles

Coach Ted Abel has a long-running legacy, having spent time as a teacher, coach, and now PIAA official over the past half-century at William Tennent High School.

He started teaching in 1973 and then started coaching track and field in 1974. He then added cross country to his repertoire the year after.

But even before that, Abel was a student down the road at Upper Moreland High School. There, he competed in the annual William Tennent Cross Country Invitational.

It's that very invitational that he has kept moving over the years.

However, the event encountered a few speed bumps in its seven-decade history. In the 1980s, it was even threatened by a similar event taking place at the same time.

But Abel, his fellow coaches, and the broader William Tennent community refused to allow the event to peter out.

Now, it attracts hundreds of students from dozens of area schools who zig and zag through a course full of varied elevations.

That very course is known as the Coach Ted Abel Cross Country Course.

Abel hopes to continue serving as a PIAA official as long as he's having fun.

Watch the video above to see the story in action.

RELATED: 100-year-old bowler still throws strikes in Delaware County

You could say he's on a roll at 100 years old. William Owen Hanna is a veteran, a deacon, and a lifelong bowler who still hits the lanes every week.

Motorsport photo

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has backed Isack Hadjar to eventually succeed him at Red Bull.

Hadjar joined Red Bull alongside Verstappen at the start of 2026 after impressing in his rookie season with sister outfit Racing Bulls. While the Milton Keynes outfit has struggled for some time to find a team-mate for the Dutchman who could extract the same level of performance from the car, Hadjar has impressed so far.

With six rounds remaining in the 2026 season, Verstappen sits fourth in the drivers' championship with 221 points, while Hadjar is eighth with 97 points, having missed three race weekends due to a wrist injury.

While speaking to Canal+, Verstappen discussed his 22-year-old team-mate.

"Isack, he’s still a very young guy. He’s been a part of the Red Bull programme for a while now," Verstappen said. "Even when he was still not racing in Formula 1, he’s been around to some of the races, listening in and following.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull RacingMax Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

"So, I slowly start to feel a little bit old having a younger team-mate by quite a few years. But that’s a normal process, and that’s also what, as a team, you should be looking for, right?

"I’m not going to race forever, and at one point you need new talent coming into the team to try and take over at one point. That’s always been a little bit the way that Red Bull works, finding new talent, and I think that will continue for a long time.

"As a team-mate, he has been great. He’s just getting started, but it has been really nice."

When asked if Hadjar could take his role within the team in the future, Verstappen added: "That’s what I hope. As I said, I’m not racing here forever. He has a few years on me, so hopefully he can stay around for a bit longer."

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Stephen A Smith has revealed his pick to win the 2026/27 NBA Championship – and it’s not the New York Knicks.

Smith believes the Oklahoma City Thunder are the team to beat this year and has warned the Knicks of a “tough road ahead”.

Speaking ahead of the new season, he said: “October 20th, 2026, the opening of the 2026/27 NBA season, before anything else happens a ring ceremony will take place, it will be placed on the fingers of the New York Knicks, and the banner will raise to the rafters.

“Finally, it will be official, New York Knicks are the NBA Champions.”

The ESPN personality warned that defending the title would be a much greater challenge.

He said: “It will be a tough road ahead now, because you’ve got to defend that crown and I think the Oklahoma City Thunder are the favourites to win it all.

“I don’t see anybody beating them all healthy in an NBA Finals.”

It’s safe to say fans didn’t share his confidence and criticised his assessment of the Knicks. One replied, “The banner isn’t even up yet and he is already betraying the Knicks.”

Another added: “Stop being so dramatic. We all know you will make sure to have fake emotion and espn all over it. Spike is more of a fan than you. You don’t even go to all the home games.”

Welcome to the Steelers Afternoon Drive, our new daily podcast featuring all the latest Steelers news and analysis.

Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers.

On today’s episode, we discuss the team bringing in old friend Marquez Valdez-Scantling to the practice squad and if that will be all they do to address the WR room? What do we make of some of the other names out there? How different is covering this team in 2026? What have the pros and cons been so far of the team making an offensive-minded hire at head coach?

Let’s go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss all this!

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Check out the show on our YouTube page, or find it on Megaphone or wherever you get your podcasts.

Got a question for the guys? Leave a comment on YouTube, here on the website, or find them on Twitter at @ASaunders_PGH and @ZacharySmithPGH

Hey fans! We want to see your black and gold rides! Show us your car, truck or van that’s painted in Pittsburgh colors, decorated with logos or Terrible Towels, covered in bumper stickers, or uses some other way to show off your dedication to the Black and Gold.Click to check out more from Alan Saunders and the gang on the SN YouTube page.Click for full archives of the Steelers Afternoon Drive with Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith.

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ESPN's Shams Charania reveals major 76ers plan for LeBron James, Joel Embiid to start season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Coming into the season, the Philadelphia 76ers know they have plenty of players who can score the ball. Many believe the 76ers have what it takes to make a deep run in the playoffs.

It is all about staying healthy, which is something LeBron James and Joel Embiid struggled with at times last season. This season, Embiid feels good as the regular season gets underway.

“Pretty good," Embiid said. "Not bad. I don't know, that's probably (he took a pause), I said I would never dunk again. In the moment, he did block me the first time so I was kind of pissed off about it. So I was hoping that he would jump again, so that's why I went for it. But, yeah, that's probably the last dunk of my career."

For James, there is a lot to monitor when it comes to his health. Despite the concerns, there is a strong belief that he looks much better now than he did at this point last season.

“LeBron missed the first 15 games of last season and was clearly limited with his handle as he battled sciatica issues. It coincided with his first summer playing golf consistently. He looks noticeably healthier this offseason and more fluid with his movement,” NBA writer Damien Peters wrote.

With both players dealing with injuries over the past year, Philadelphia has put a clear plan in place to manage their workloads. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the 76ers hope to limit both players to around 30 minutes per game during the first few weeks of the season.

“My understanding is Lebron James, Joel Embiid -  the hope is within the first few weeks of the season limit them to around 30 minutes a game,” Charania said.

It is a smart approach by the organization, as Philadelphia looks to ensure that two of its key players are ready for the long season ahead. After all, the NBA regular season consists of 82 games, making it important for both stars to stay as healthy as possible.

As the 76ers settle into the season, James and Embiid could see their minutes increase as they continue to build rhythm and get a feel for each game. For now, the plan is to keep both players around the 30-minute mark, barring situations such as overtime. Philadelphia will be looking to manage their workloads carefully and avoid putting unnecessary strain on its two stars.

More NBA news:

• Knicks' Jalen Brunson sends strong message to Karl-Anthony Towns about contract extension
• Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns gives final stance on New York future after contract talks stall
• Ex-Bucks NBA champion scorns 76ers, says LeBron James' age will eventually prove costly
• 76ers' 7-foot-6 giant ruled out for season opener against Knicks as LeBron James' debut looms

Fifa have acknowledged an apology from The Times over incorrect reporting that president Gianni Infantino was paid an undeclared second salary and have called out what it claims is a ‘concerted and ongoing effort’ to undermine the organisation and Infantino.

An article published by The Times a week ago claimed that Infantino had received a second salary from Fifa and that he had failed to declare the payments with that information proving incorrect. The newspaper removed the incorrect information and issued an apology to both Fifa and Infantino over the report.

Having seen and accepted the apology Fifa, via their Fifa Media account on X, took the opportunity to address the media and emphasise the need to ‘act responsibly’ and ‘carefully verify all sourcing’ in order to prevent false information from being published.

The organisation’s statement also addressed what it perceives is a co-ordinated effort to undermine Infantino’s presidency after the 56-year-old came under scrutiny over a proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

That plan has raised concerns over his ability to perform in the role of president with Uefa among several parties to have called for his resignation.

FIFA & FIFA PRESIDENT RECEIVES APOLOGY FROM ‘THE TIMES’

FIFA takes note of an apology published today by The Times following an inaccurate and damaging report:

On 13 October 2026 (Sport), we reported that Gianni Infantino received a "second salary" from Fifa, which Fifa had…

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) October 20, 2026

Fifa’s statement reads: “FIFA takes note of an apology published today by The Times following an inaccurate and damaging report:

‘“On 13 October 2026 (Sport), we reported that Gianni Infantino received a "second salary" from Fifa, which Fifa had failed to disclose. This is incorrect. There was no “second salary.” Regulations do not require Fifa to include expenses and reimbursements received by Mr Infantino in its annual report as they are not considered "compensation" under Swiss reporting requirements. We also accept Mr Infantino did not purchase a property in Miami at a suspected undervalue as we reported and neither he nor his family are the legal or beneficial owners of Shadi LLC and have no control over that company, as we suggested. We are happy to make these corrections and apologise to Mr Infantino and Fifa for the errors.’

“As FIFA stated in August, it is evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its President. FIFA urges the media to act responsibly and carefully verify all sourcing to prevent the publication and subsequent reproduction of false and defamatory information.

“FIFA welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a license to amplify false allegations. Where reporting is inaccurate, misleading, or totally false, as in this case, FIFA will continue to challenge it directly and vigorously.”

Rodri was rested at kick-off for Barcelona's game against PSG on Tuesday (Ozan KOSE)

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Rodri would be back in the starting line-up for Sunday's Clasico showdown against Real Madrid after being rested at kick-off in the Champions League loss away to Paris Saint-Germain.

"Yes, but you know Rodri played a lot of minutes with the national team and also the last games with us," Flick told reporters after Barcelona's 4-2 defeat in Paris on Tuesday.

"I spoke with him this morning and I told him that we made this decision, and Marc Bernal started instead. For me, it was a good solution what we did and hopefully he is fresh on Sunday."

Rodri came on after an hour of the game in Paris, as Barcelona's perfect record this season came to an end.

The Catalans had twice come from behind, with Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal replying to goals by Desire Doue and Lucas Hernandez for the hosts.

Yamal made it 2-2 in the 79th minute, but Vitinha put PSG back in front two minutes later before Fabian Ruiz sealed the victory for the defending European champions.

"I think it was a fantastic game from both teams but we made too many mistakes, especially in possession," Flick said.

"But I also saw a lot of good things. For me it was a great test for us and you also saw today what errors we have to improve to make things better.

"We have to learn from this game. Today, in October, you cannot win titles. You win the Champions League in June."

Flick added that the upcoming Clasico, in which Barca have the chance to go nine points ahead of Madrid in La Liga, influenced his team selection "a lot".

- PSG injuries -

Barcelona lost Dani Olmo to injury in the French capital, while the home team saw Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, two of their chief attacking stars, come off hurt.

Dembele suffered a hamstring injury in the first half, and captain Marquinhos was also unable to finish the encounter.

"I am not the doctor but the three players are injured which is the worst thing to come out of tonight's game," said PSG coach Luis Enrique.

"Three injuries to three very important players. It is the worst news we could have had, but that is what happens in football."

PSG have won their first three games in this season's league phase, scoring 14 goals in the process, as they aim to win the Champions League for the third year running.

They are therefore comfortably on course to reach the knockout phase, although their coach is not getting carried away. The top eight teams in the league phase go straight through to the last 16.

"We have already played against our two opponents from Pot A," he said, with this win following a 4-2 triumph at Manchester City last week.

"But I will remind you that last year we also won our first three games and we did not finish in the top eight.

"We will enjoy this but then we will start to think about this weekend's game against Lyon."

as/mw

It might have been fitting that, on the night the watching Ian Rush’s 65th birthday, the goals flowed at Anfield. Yet even as Liverpool celebrated their most prolific ever No 9, it was more about the man in the No 10 shirt.

The vast majority of Rush’s record 346 goals for Liverpool were penalty-box finishes and if much of Alexis Mac Allister’s best work comes in rather deeper positions, the midfielder displayed his predatory streak. In the process, he ensured that Andoni Iraola’s attempts to rest and rotate, which looked likely to backfire after the worst half-hour of his reign, did not cost Liverpool.

“They were much better than us in the first half, and we were much better in the second half,” said Iraola. If both the teamsheet and the opening stages suggested Iraola was either being generous to his old teammate and assistant Inigo Perez or had underestimated his former sidekick, by the final whistle Liverpool were second in the embryonic Champions League table.

The worst half-hour of Andoni Iraola's reign did not cost him against former assistant Inigo Perez (Getty)

And if they scarcely resembled potential continental champions, Iraola’s taste of European nights at Anfield has brought twin continental comebacks, each featuring a starring role from Mac Allister. It was witnessed by his near namesake, Gary McAllister, himself no stranger to important goals in Europe for Liverpool.

It was the kind of talismanic display that Dominik Szoboszlai provided last season. But with the Hungarian injured and Iraola benching the three biggest signings in Liverpool’s history, they needed someone to supply the inspiration. Mac Allister obliged. “The character, when you are 2-0 down and not playing well, he doesn’t panic,” noted Iraola.

Mac Allister was aided by the excellent Rio Ngumoha while Ronald Araujo’s equaliser again underlined what a fine bit of business Liverpool did by borrowing the Uruguayan from Barcelona. Florian Wirtz, one of the £364m trio held in reserve, came off the bench to score the fourth.

Alexis Mac Allister was aided by a brilliant Rio Ngumoha (centre) performance (PA Wire)

But Mac Allister, scorer of a winner against Atletico Madrid and, on another occasion when Iraola fielded a weakened team, the opener against Tottenham was pivotal. His footballing intelligence gives him an eye for goal. “I'm not tall but I love going in the box,” said the Argentinian. “My dad is a bit smaller than me but he was quite good in the air so maybe it's something I got from him.” So the younger Mac Allister rose highest to glance in a header from Kostas Tsimikas’ corner.

His second showed another attribute for a goalscoring midfielder. “He can arrive inside the box like a No 8,” added Iraola. Mac Allister timed his run into the penalty box perfectly to put Liverpool ahead, crashing in a shot from six yards off the underside of the bar and following a cutback from Ngumoha. “It’s up there with one of the best I’ve played,” said the 18-year-old, who became the youngest player since Michael Owen to make two goals in a game for Liverpool.

The first came when Araujo snuck in at the far post to capitalise on poor defending by Cardona and head in the teenager’s cross. It was, albeit indirectly, a second goal from a corner and a second in as many Champions League games for Araujo. ‘Big Ron’ is proving a big threat from set-pieces.

After Mac Allister doubled his tally for the night, Wirtz drove in Liverpool’s fourth following a pass from Cody Gakpo, who was making his first appearance for a month.

Florian Wirtz scored his first goal of the season to give Liverpool daylight (PA)

He had been summoned at half-time when Ryan Gravenberch, who had begun as the No 10, moved to right-back in place of Araujo. Iraola had left Liverpool’s three £100m men on the bench. After half an hour, it seemed he would need to summon them straight away. Instead, he waited before introducing Wirtz. By the time Alexander Isak came on, Liverpool led. They had four goals to their name when Bradley Barcola joined them.

Liverpool ended up with a 16th win in 19 group-stage games since the Champions League expanded. For Villarreal a seventh straight away defeat in Europe. It could, though, have been very different. “If you score three goals and play very well in the game and you end up taking home a defeat where you have to analyse it is on the errors we made,” said Perez.

But Villarreal started superbly. Iraola’s version of his strongest available side was his freshest, with six changes. A fixture list of Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal may have been prominent in his thoughts. Yet Liverpool scarcely showed sharpness at the start. They were strangely passive, applying too little pressure to the players on the ball. Their offside trap malfunctioned. They committed individual mistakes.

The worst came from Virgil van Dijk. An attempt to head the ball back to Alisson was horribly misdirected, the Liverpool captain only finding Georges Mikautadze, who angled a shot past the goalkeeper. Van Dijk had his hands up in apology immediately.

Virgil van Dijk’s error gifted Villarreal an early opener (PA)

Villarreal’s second came when they pierced the offside trap with two runners. Nathan Saliba slid a pass through; Villarreal had two men played onside by Tsimikas and Sergi Cardona slid his shot past Alisson.

Even after seemingly sealing victory, Liverpool afforded them a lifeline. After conceding three goals to LASK last week, they let Villarreal get a third through Tani Oluwaseyi’s calm far-post finish; the stand-in right-back Gravenberch gave him too much room.

The danger was that Iraola and Perez, who had shared so much, would share the points. This was a reunion for the former double act, even if it seemed that Iraola had not warned his friend about the weather. Perez did not even don a coat in the Merseyside rain. His attire was more suitable for the Spanish sun, even if he had greater regrets. “We didn’t know how to manage the emotion tonight,” he rued.

Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates scoring against AEK Athens (Oli SCARFF)

Enzo Maresca said Phil Foden provided evidence that his prolonged slump might finally be over with a hat-trick in Manchester City's 5-1 rout of AEK Athens in the Champions League on Tuesday.

After struggling badly over the last two seasons, England playmaker Foden could be on the brink of a long-awaited renaissance after his sublime display at the Etihad Stadium.

It has been a trying period for the 26-year-old, who has admitted suffering with mental health issues.

Foden fell out of favour with former City boss Pep Guardiola and hadn't scored for 10 months prior to his goal in Saturday's Premier League win against Ipswich.

This season has been another turbulent experience for Foden, who was sent off in City's win at Manchester United and had been forced to battle for a place in Maresca's staring line-up.

Taking advantage of injuries that left Erling Haaland on the bench against AEK and sidelined Antoine Semenyo for eight weeks, Foden starred on the left wing before switching to the 'false nine' role as the focal point of City's attack.

"It is good news for me because you know he is doing well and this is what we want for many reasons," City boss Maresca said.

"First of all, because he is a top player and we know that. Happy for him, but also happy for the team that we have one more weapon that we can use."

Foden's hat-trick will surely have caught England manager Thomas Tuchel's eye as he prepares to pick his squad for the Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain in November.

Long heralded as one of England's brightest talents, Foden was left out of his country's World Cup squad earlier this year in a damning sign of his fall from grace.

Having ended his run without a goal in the Champions League since November 2025, Foden now has to produce nights like this on a regular basis to earn the trust of Maresca and Tuchel.

- 'Slowly but surely' -

Rico Lewis delivered the assists for Foden's first two goals and the right-back hailed his friend and former youth academy colleague's prodigious talent.

"Phil is an unbelievable player. When I first came into the first team, I was closest with him," Lewis said.

"I almost wanted to be him when I was coming up. To be able to play with him now, five years down the line and assist him and see how well he's still doing, is amazing."

Foden's dazzling contribution against the out-classed Greeks wasn't limited to his treble.

He also teed up Rayan Cherki for City's third goal with a typically smooth pass.

Finally playing with a smile on his face again, Foden said: "I enjoyed that a lot. The lads were great.

"Probably the second goal was my favourite, the way it went in. Delighted to score goals. I am a forward, so I have to keep scoring and helping the team. It's good for my confidence."

Foden acknowledged his substantial loss of form as he discussed his belief that a brighter future is within his grasp.

"Slowly, but surely. Still got a long way to go, but I am going in the right direction," he said.

"Scoring along the way definitely helps. I want to keep working hard and keep being the best I can for the manager and the team.

"When I changed into that false nine role I enjoyed it a lot. Really enjoyed that role tonight."

Foden is rarely been a vocal leader but he believes playing with several of City's youngsters in Maresca's much-changed team against AEK forced him to play with more maturity.

"Trying to help them the best I can with the captains. Try (to) help the young ones, and it shows the trust the manager has," he said.

It might only have been baby steps against AEK, but Foden is finally on the road to redemption.

smg/jc

Paul George made history in his Boston Celtics debut Tuesday afternoon, but the Detroit Pistons made sure his record-breaking performance ended in disappointment. Despite George exploding for 38 points, Detroit erased a 22-point deficit and used an incredible 23-0 fourth-quarter run to stun Boston 121-113 in its season opener.

George was nearly unstoppable for much of the game, shooting 12-of-21 from the field and 7-of-12 from three-point range. His 38 points established a Celtics franchise record for the most points scored by a player in his team debut.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL GAME RECAP

Paul George Breaks Celtics Franchise Record

George made history with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter when he converted a three-point play to reach 31 points, surpassing Kristaps Porzingis’ previous Celtics debut record of 30 set in 2023. He eventually finished with 38 points, five rebounds, three assists, and five steals.

“Paul George has set the franchise record for points in a Celtic debut. 31 and counting,” Justin Turpin reported as George reached the milestone.

But while George was busy making history, the Pistons were preparing to steal the show. Detroit entered the fourth quarter trailing 88-82 after falling behind by as many as 22 points in the third.

Javonte Green Helps Shut Down George During Pistons Comeback

With 7:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, George checked back into the game, and Detroit responded by bringing Javonte Green onto the floor. What happened next helped change the outcome.

George missed his next four field-goal attempts, with Green serving as his primary defender on three of those shots. The misses came during Detroit’s remarkable 23-0 fourth-quarter run, which completely flipped the game.

Green also delivered offensively, scoring 19 points while knocking down five three-pointers. He finished with a game-high plus-21 rating in just 18 minutes off the bench.

Meanwhile, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren each scored 22 points, while Duncan Robinson added 21. As we previously highlighted, Duren had already shown promising offensive growth during the preseason.

According to the official game box score, George’s historic performance wasn’t enough to prevent Boston’s collapse. The Celtics were outscored 39-25 in the fourth quarter as Detroit completed its incredible comeback.

Paul George made Celtics history, but Javonte Green and the Pistons had the last laugh. After trailing by 22 points, Detroit opened the 2026-27 season with a victory that won’t soon be forgotten.

Spencer Medick, the pitching coach for the New York Yankees‘ Triple-A affiliate in 2026, is joining the Houston Astros as their new director of pitching, according to multiple reports Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Medick, 35, joined the Yankees as the pitching coach for the Single-A Hudson Valley Renegades in 2022. He held the same role in 2023 with the Florida Complex League Yankees, in 2024 with Hudson Valley again, and joined the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders as bullpen coach in 2025.

After another season with the RailRiders, Medick will head to a new organization in a new, non-uniformed role.

MORE: Leaked video from Houston Sports Hall of Fame event shows Astros GM candidate

Last season, the RailRiders had the fourth-best earned-run average and strikeouts per nine innings rates n the International League.

The Astros have cleaned house in 2026. They fired general manager Dana Brown in August and manager Joe Espada in October — after the team finished 81-81, won the American League West, and were swept in a best-of-three wild-card series by the Chicago White Sox.

Behind the scenes, the Astros have cut back on full-time analytics personnel since their run of seven consecutive American League Championship Series appearances (2017-24), a stretch of success that included two World Series victories.

MORE: Rays minor league pitcher suddenly retires amid World Series run

Medick represents the organization will still value data-driven decision-making in their personnel decisions in 2027.

Before he joined the Yankees’ organization, Medick worked as a throwing trainer at Driveline Baseball from 2019-21. He pitched professionally from 2014-18, including a single season of affiliated baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ summer league team.

Houston has yet to officially name a GM, but the group around him is already taking shape.

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The Eagles made changes to the running back room on their 53-man roster on Tuesday.

They announced that they have signed Elijah Mitchell off of their practice squad. They also waived Jaydon Blue and Carson Steele. Steele was waived with an injury designation after hurting his shoulder in Week 6.

Mitchell signed with the Eagles this offseason and returned to the practice squad after being cut in August. He played in one game for the Chiefs last year and ran 327 times for 1,523 yards and nine touchdowns over three seasons with the 49ers.

Blue signed to the active roster ahead of last Sunday's loss to the Panthers, but did not play. Steele had one catch for four yards against Carolina and played in two games overall.

The other backs on the roster are Saquon Barkley and Dameon Pierce. Barkley has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.