Nick Novak signs with Chargers

Updated: September 13, 2011, 5:18 PM ET

ESPN.com news services

The San Diego Chargers signed kicker Nick Novak to a two-year contract on Tuesday and placed Nate Kaeding on season-ending injured reserve, the team announced.

Novak beat out Shayne Graham and Dave Rayner for the kicking job after having the best workout Tuesday, a source said.

ESPN.com's Bill Williamson writes about all things AFC West in his division blog.

In 2010, Novak was in training camp with the Chargers. He spent training camp with the New York Jets before this season.

Kaeding suffered torn ligaments in his knee in the Chargers' season-opening victory over the Vikings.

Kaeding was hurt trying to tackle Minnesota's Percy Harvin, who returned the opening kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown on Sunday.

"He planted and he kind of got spread out," coach Norv Turner said Monday. "There was no contact on the play."

Kaeding came into the season having made 86.5 percent of his field goal attempts, 173 of 200, in the previous seven seasons.

The team also announced that it has signed defensive end Ogemdi Nwagbuo and released safety C.J. Wallace.

Information from ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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