Shaun Suisham has won the Redskins' place kicking job.

The Redskins released Nick Novak on Monday, handing the kicking job to Suisham.

"I felt Shaun gives us the best chance to get us distance," head coach Joe Gibbs said. "He helps us on kickoffs and gives us some more distance on field goals. So I felt like that was the direction we should go."

Suisham took over the place kicking duties in Sunday's 24-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He made two PATs and was wide left on a 50-yard field goal attempt. Gibbs was also impressed with Suisham's length and hang time on kickoffs.

Asked if the team would stay with Suisham for the remainder of the season, Gibbs replied: "With everybody on the football team going forward, you have to know you have to produce. It's the same with Shaun. He has an opportunity and we think he has a good, strong leg. He's a young guy. He will need to step up and take it and go with it."

Suisham, 6-0 and 205 pounds, originally signed on with the Redskins' practice squad last Tuesday. The team signed him on Saturday evening to the active roster and both Suisham and Novak were available to kick in Sunday's game against Atlanta.

Suisham spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys earlier this season. Overall, Suisham has played in a total of sevengames in his NFL career. He is 4-of-7 on field goals and 12-for-12 on PATs.

Novak, a Maryland grad, made a name for himself in the Washington, D.C., region by kicking several last-second game-winners in his brief NFL career. In Week 9 earlier this season, he nailed a 47-yarder to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 22-19 at FedExField.

Novak struggled with consistency, however. He was 5-of-10 on field goals this season and his kickoff distance had increasingly become a concern.

Meantime, the Redskins re-signed defensive tackle Ryan Boschetti on Monday. Boschetti takes the roster spot vacated by Novak.