CHARLOTTE — Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (illness) and left tackle Russell Okung (groin) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.

Gross-Matos’ illness is not COVID-19 related.

“I’m always concerned when someone’s not out there. Yetur, as a young player, needs to practice, but his health always comes first,” head coach Matt Rhule said ahead of this weekend’s home game with the Cardinals.

“Whenever we get him back, we’ll make a determination on if he’s ready to play this week.”

Okung missed one practice last week and was questionable for Sunday’s game against the Chargers, but was ultimately inactive for the contest. He missed three games with a groin issue in 2019 but said last Thursday he didn’t think there was a “direct correlation” between the injuries.

Defensive tackle Derrick Brown also missed Wednesday’s practice, but his absence was not injury