Courtney Lawes won't be available to England's Six Nations game against Italy as he continues to heal from concussion.
The head injury sustained by the flanker on 16 January while playing for Northampton versus Ulster was not serious and he has yet to return to full training with Eddie Jones.
Lawes was the favourite choice to be captain after Owen Farrell was ruled out of the Championship.
Callum Chick, Newcastle number eight, has been invited to train with the squad.
“Courtney Lawes will not be selected because he continues to work on his return to play protocols,” reads a Rugby Football Union statement.
After Lawes' absence during the opening, Tom Curry will be continuing as captain. defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend.
Joe Launchbury was a veteran lock who was only available for a few months. recalled to the squad as injury cover for Lewis Ludlam earlier this week.
Launchbury will be returning to Wasps to complete his recovery from the April knee injury.
England will be without centre Mark Atkinson, meaning that England will either keep Elliot Daly and Henry Slade as their midfield partners or use Slade in place of Joe Marchant.
The England team that will face Italy in Rome on Thursday is expected to be announced.
England squad
Forwards: Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Curry (Sale Sharks), Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ewels (Bath Rugby), Genge (Leicester Tigers), George (Saracens), Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Isiekwe (Saracens), Itoje (Saracens), Marler (Harlequins), Rodd (Sale Sharks), Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), Sinckler (Bristol Bears), Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Backs:Daly (Saracens), Ford, (Leicester Tigers), Malins(Saracens), Marchant [Harlequins], Nowell (Exeter Chiefs], Randall (Bristol Bears), Radwan (“Newcastle”), Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Smith Smith (Harlequins), Steward and Youngs (Leicester Tigers”)
