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Jacksonville Jaguars: Desperate for even a semblance of stability and experience in their kicking game, the Jags signed 14-year veteran placekicker Steve Christie on Thursday.

Christie, 36, kicked the last three seasons in San Diego, but the Chargers did not try to re-sign him after the season. An unrestricted free agent, he converted 15 of 20 field goal attempts last season.

Details of his contract were not immediately available, but it is believed that Christie got a one-year deal that included a minimum base salary of $760,000.

Through two preseason games, Jaguars kickers have converted only one of six field-goal attempts. They have not been much more successful, apparently, in practices, and it was fairly obvious the franchise would have to make a move -- either in free agency or via trade. It is believed the Jaguars had casual discussions with the Cowboys about one of their two kickers, incumbent Billy Cundiff or challenger Matt Bryant.

Incumbent Seth Marler, who struggled as a rookie in 2003, continued to suffer from leg injuries in camp. Jeff Chandler, signed in the offseason, was released last week. That left rookie Josh Scobee of Louisiana Tech, a fifth-round draft pick, and he has converted just one of four field goal tries.

Christie, currently 15th in NFL career scoring with 1,377 points, has played for Tampa Bay, Buffalo and the Chargers. In nine seasons with Buffalo, he connected on 78.3 percent of his field goals and scored more than 100 points in eight of those seasons. He spent two years before that with Tampa Bay, where he converted 38 of 47 field goals.

Christie has made 314 of 403 field goal tries and 435 of 440 extra-point attempts in his career.

Washington Redskins: LaVar Arrington said his sprained left knee wouldn't keep him out of a regular-season game. But it will keep him out of his second straight preseason game, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

Arrington tried to persuade the team's medical staff to let him play, but was denied.

New England Patriots: The Patriots released veteran wide receiver J.J. Stokes, who was signed as a free agent on March 3.

Last season, after being released by Jacksonville on Nov. 12, the 31-year-old Stokes was signed by the Patriots. He appeared in two games and was released on Dec. 9, but was re-signed on Jan. 17, for the playoffs.

He originally was drafted from UCLA by San Francisco in 1995. He played eight seasons with the 49ers, starting 66 of 111 games and catching 327 passes for 4,139 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Buffalo Bills: Receiver Clarence Coleman was among six players released by Buffalo.

Coleman spent two years with the Bills and had eight catches for 69 yards in 14 games last year. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2002, Coleman hurt his foot in minicamp that year and spent part of the season on Buffalo's practice squad.

The Bills also released receiver Cedric Bonner, linebacker Asa Francis, center Dan Koons, running back Isaac Mitchell and linebacker Michale Spicer. Bonner finished last season on the Bills practice squad.

The moves reduced the team's roster to 78 players, leaving Buffalo with 13 more cuts to make by the NFL's 65-player limit deadline on Tuesday. The moves came on the final day of Bills training camp in suburban Rochester, and before Buffalo's third preseason game at Indianapolis on Saturday.

Houston Texans: The Texans placed inside linebacker Marcus Bell on injured reserve with a shoulder injury he suffered last weekend in a game at Pittsburgh.

Bell, 27, made a strong impression through training camp and was in the running for a backup job after sitting out the 2003 season.

Bell, a fourth-round draft choice in 2000, spent his first three seasons with Seattle before getting cut last August. He joined Houston in March.

He is the second preseason casualty for the Texans. Running back Jason Anderson, also in the running for a backup job, broke his right leg in the exhibition opener against Dallas.

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