France on Monday said it was dropping centre Julien Delbouis and back-rower Alexandre Roumat from the extended 42-man squad for next weekend's Six Nations game against England.
Delbouis gives way to Montpellier's uncapped Thomas Darmon, the rugby federation said.
France and England have both won two of their three matches heading into round four and still have a chance of winning the championship should unbeaten Ireland slip up.
The absence of Roumat, who had only been called into the squad on Sunday as a replacement for Dylan Cretin, opens the way again for La Rochelle's Paul Boudehent.
Another La Rochelle player, Thomas Lavault also dropped out on Sunday, his place going to Bordeaux-Begles' lock Thomas Jolmes.
Neither Delbouis nor Roumat was in line to make the 23-man matchday squad for Le Crunch at Twickenham on Saturday.