With a plethora of position battles and key decisions at stake, the next 36 hours will be restless for many Chargers as they await their fate.

Nick Novak does not figure to be one of them.

Most teams bring in an additional leg for training camp and preseason for competition, but not San Diego.  The lone kicker on the Chargers roster, the coaching staff has been adamant in their steadfast faith and conviction in number nine. 

“I told him once again when I met with him, I said, ‘Remember this, you’re our kicker,’ Special Teams Coordinator Kevin Spencer said a few weeks ago.  “In his past he’s had to fight and had disappointments where he probably won a job but didn’t get it for different reasons.  Well he’s our guy here and we’re happy he found his home here.  I have a great comfort level with him here.  One thing we try to do is slow down his work because he’s a tireless worker and we need to keep his leg fresh.  But he is our kicker, and he will take us as far as he wants to take us.  It’s a great comfort to have him here.”

Novak showed how valuable he is Thursday night, accounting for all 12 of the team’s points with field goals

of 35, 39, 55 and 37 yards.  The 55-yarder was the longest field goal the seven-year veteran ever kicked, besting his previous high of 53-yards against Denver in 2011.

“It was a great opportunity for us in there,” Head Coach Mike McCoy said of Novak getting the extra work.  “Unfortunately we kicked way too many field goals today, but we knew that if we got a long one, we’d use the opportunity to do it.  Regardless of what the situation was there, I wanted him to get a long one, which was great.  He did a nice job.” Read