Houston, TX -- (Sports Network) - The Houston Texans released running back Mike Bell on Friday, just eight days after signing him.

The move was necessitated by the signing of offensive tackle Torrin Tucker, an undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi. The Texans have lost starting tackle Ephraim Salaam to a left knee injury, and he could be sidelined three to four weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery.

Bell had been limited by back soreness in training camp. The Texans signed him on July 31 to spell starting running back Chris Brown.

"We don't think he was physically quite with the rest of the team," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said about Bell. "We worked him back, and (he) probably could have went back on the field this morning, but because of our situation having to sign the tackle yesterday, we had to make a move, and the most obvious place for us right now ... is to let a back go. We like the kid though, I can tell you all that."

After a fantastic rookie season in 2006 with Denver, which saw him post 677 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, Bell battled injuries through much of 2007 and had little playing time. He was released by the Broncos in the offseason.