Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak has given the players the bye week off, but two members of the team won't be returning next week.

Offensive tackle Ephraim Salaam has been released and linebacker David Nixon was placed on waivers, the team announced on Tuesday.

Salaam was signed after starting left tackle Duane Brown was suspended for four games for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. Salaam appeared in four games for the Texans during Brown's suspension, which ended on Monday.

Placing Nixon (6-3, 225) on waivers is a bit of a surprise, as the Texans are currently short-handed at the linebacker position after losing starting middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans for the season to a ruptured Achilles' tendon.

Nixon was claimed by the Texans off waivers from the Oakland Raiders at the start of the season, and posted a career-high nine tackles in Sunday's 35-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

In six career NFL games, including three with the Texans this season, Nixon has 10 tackles, four on special teams.