The Texans will release inside linebacker Brian Cushing before the league year begins March 14, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The emergence of second-year linebackers Zach Cunningham and Dylan Cole made Cushing expendable.
Houston will save $7.64 million under the salary cap with Cushing’s release.
Cushing served a 10-game suspension this season for violating the NFL performance-enhancing drug policy. He made 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks in five games, starting the final four games at outside linebacker because of injuries.
Cushing, a first-round pick in 2009, started all 104 games he played during his nine seasons in Houston.