Carolina Panthers’ Mike Tolbert, Thomas Davis miss practice because of funeral

Fullback Mike Tolbert and linebacker Thomas Davis were not at practice Thursday but instead where attending a funeral for one of Tolbert’s relatives.

The two were joined by defensive end Charles Johnson, who’s on the injured reserve with a designation to return, general manager Dave Gettleman and player engagement director Mark Carrier. According to Johnson’s Instagram page, team owner/founder Jerry Richardson funded a private jet for the group to travel to the funeral.

This comes months after the organization came under fire when former Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams claimed no one from the Panthers other than defensive end Greg Hardy attended his mother’s funeral in 2014.

Williams said he was “so upset” by the lack of response from the Panthers.

“It stung to know that a place of business you’ve worked for, you’ve bled, you’ve done everything you possibly can for this organization,” Williams told WBTV after he was released by the team this offseason, “upon your darkest hour, they let you handle it by yourself.”

Williams also said in the interview that the situation started a change in team policy on how to handle deaths in the family.

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 4:02 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers’ Mike Tolbert, Thomas Davis miss practice because of funeral."