Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) looks on after a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Jan. 4 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker, file)

Lions add

RB Pacheco

(AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal says quarterback Geno Smith is returning to where his career started after the New York Jets acquired him in a trade with Las Vegas.

The Raiders could have been in position to release Smith. They are expected to take Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the draft next month.

Detroit reached an agreement on the second day of free agency to add running back Isiah Pacheco as a replacement for David Montgomery after the Lions traded Jahmyr Gibbs’ backup last week.

Pacheco spent his first four seasons in the running back rotation with the Kansas City Chiefs. He rushed for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns over four seasons with the Chiefs, helping them win two Super Bowls.

Handshake

snub at WBC

HOUSTON (AP) — Cal Raleigh insists he has no beef with Randy Arozarena even though his Seattle teammate lashed out with a vulgar rant after Raleigh left him hanging for a handshake at the World Baseball Classic.

The kerfuffle went viral when Arozarena, a two-time All-Star outfielder, cursed out Raleigh to a reporter after the Team USA catcher did not accept a handshake before an at-bat in the United States’ 5-3 win over Mexico. Speaking to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert in Spanish, Arozarena said Raleigh “has to thank God that he has nice parents, well educated.” Raleigh says he loves Arozarena, calling him his “brother.”

Japan awaits

quarterfinal

(AP) — Defending champion Japan completed an unbeaten group stage at the World Baseball Classic, beating the Czech Republic 9-0 behind a nine-run eighth inning capped by Munetaka Murakami’s grand slam. After outscoring opponents 39-9 in going 4-0, Japan advanced to a quarterfinal on Saturday in Miami against Venezuela or the Dominican Republic.

Japan rested Shohei Ohtani, who is hitting .556 with two homers, six RBIs and four walks. The Czechs, the 2025 European championship bronze medalists, finished 0-4 and were outscored 39-5 while batting .167, 19th among the 20 teams.

Tyrese Maxey

sidelined

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey will by sidelined for at least three weeks because of a tendon injury on the small finger of his right hand. The team announced the injury Tuesday.

Maxey injured his finger in Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks in a collision with teammate Adem Bona with 16 seconds remaining in the 76ers’ 126-116 loss. He is averaging 29.0 points and 6.7 assists for Philadelphia (34-30), which entered its game Tuesday against Memphis in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with four losses in the last five games.

The 76ers said Maxey consulted with multiple hand specialists. He will be evaluated again in three weeks.

WNBA and

union meet

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and its players’ union are meeting at a hotel to continue discussions on reaching a new collective bargaining agreement as a deadline to get the season started on time is at hand. The meeting Tuesday comes on the date the league has said at least a handshake agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement would need to be done to start the season as scheduled.

The union leadership walked into the hotel shortly before 5 p.m. EDT. The group included executive council members Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark and Brianna Turner.