PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Tunch Ilkin First of Four Steeler Holdouts to Sign

Offensive lineman Tunch Ilkin became the first of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ four holdout veterans to reach contract terms, exactly a month after training camp opened. Ilkin, 33, a two-time Pro Bowler who is likely to retire after this season, is expected to share the right tackle’s job with first-round draft pick Leon Searcy. Ilkin, a starter for nine seasons, leads all active Steelers with 164 career games played and 130 starts.

Ilkin’s signing and the return of guard Carlton Haselrig from a 2 1/2-week injury layoff are expected to help stabilize an offensive line that had considerable trouble protecting the passer in the Steelers’ 26-0 exhibition loss Monday in New Orleans. Haselrig has been out since July 31 with a sprained left knee.

Steelers still unsigned three weeks before the Sept. 6 season opener are defensive backs Thomas Everett and Carnell Lake, a former UCLA star, and wide receiver Louis Lipps. Left guard Duval Love, the former Ram who also played at UCLA, sprained his right ankle Monday and is listed day to day. Linebacker Jerry Olsavsky is expected to miss a month with a fractured right hand.