FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Patriots rookie linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, the sixth-round pick from Eastern Illinois who has had a strong training camp and preseason, will not play in Friday night’s game against the Carolina Panthers because of an unexpected illness, according to a source.

Grugier-Hill made the trip with the Patriots to North Carolina, and the hope is that he will recover to play in the preseason finale against the New York Giants on Sept. 1.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Grugier-Hill has been playing on all top special-teams units and also as a backup linebacker, where his pursuit and athleticism to cover opposing tight ends has shown up. He has had multiple interceptions in training camp, most recently picking off Chicago Bears backup quarterback Brian Hoyer.

Grugier-Hill was drafted 208th overall and is one of two Eastern Illinois players on the Patriots’ roster, along with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.