Mike Wallace says he’s ready for opener

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallacesaid there’s no need to hold him back for Sunday’s season opener in Denver despite a lengthy holdout that didn’t end until last week.

Wallace, a restricted free agent, skipped all of Pittsburgh’s off-season activities and the first month of training camp while trying to get a new deal. He didn’t sign his one-year tender worth about $2.7 million until last Tuesday and wasn’t cleared to practice until Friday while sitting out a mandatory three-day acclimation period.

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Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher returned to practice for the first time since July 31, hoping to play in Sunday’s season opener.

Urlacher did not stop to talk to reporters, but Coach Lovie Smith said the eight-time Pro Bowl player looked good considering he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Aug. 14.

Urlacher did talk to Fox TV before Monday about his condition and said, “I’m playing Sunday. That’s a done deal.”

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The Bears signed defensive tackle Amobi Okoye to a one-year contract and waived DT Brian Price.

Okoye, the 10th overall pick by the Houston Texans in 2007’s draft, played for the Bears last season and had four sacks. He signed a one-year, $2-million contract with Tampa Bay during the off-season, had arthroscopic knee surgery in June and reached an injury settlement Friday.

The Bears had acquired Price from Tampa Bay in July for a 2013 draft pick. But he struggled coming off a leg injury and sustained a head injury in the final exhibition game.

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San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews still hopes he can play in the season opener next Monday night against the Oakland Raiders.

Mathews went through individual drills Monday for the first time since breaking his collarbone Aug. 9.

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The Detroit Lions signed cornerback Drayton Florence and released safety Ricardo Silva.

The 31-year-old Florence has played nine seasons in the NFL with the Chargers, Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. He was released Friday by the Broncos.

Florence started all 16 games the last two seasons for the Bills. Lions Coach Jim Schwartz said he can bring experience to Detroit’s secondary. Silva played four games for the Lions last season.

ETC.

Yellow Ribbon ‘Cap goes to Halo Dolly

Halo Dolly took command in the stretch and went on to a 11/4 -length win over City to City in the $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap for older fillies and mares at Del Mar.

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Halo Dolly ran 11/16 miles on the turf in 1:40.52 and paid $13.60, $6.40 and $4.60. City to City, the 2011 winner of the race when it was called the Palomar Handicap, returned $4.20 and $3.20 as the 5-2 favorite. Vivo Per Lei was another nose back in third and paid $9.60 to show.

Jerry Hollendorfer trained the top two finishers. Talamo earned his 11th stakes win of the meet, one shy of the Del Mar record of 12 shared by four riders.

The victory, worth $150,000, increased Halo Dolly’s career earnings to $623,396, with 13 wins in 22 starts.

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Facing hours-long cleanup and resurfacing of the drag strip and the threat of more rain, NHRA officials postponed the final two days of the U.S. Nationals at Clermont, Ind., until Saturday and Sunday.

The final two rounds of qualifying, which were rained out, will be held on Saturday, along with the $100,000 Funny Car NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout bonus race.

Final eliminations will be held on Sunday.