Connecting Arm & Relay ARM Bearings

I am serviceing these bearings and upon taking them out there is a plastic type cover holding the needle bearings in place. I removed this from the needles and am planning on repacking them back in the race with grease. Does it matter if that packing is gone they seem to fit the same just in the grease??

Thanks,I didnt think it would hurt anything but I wanted to make sure. you learn an awful lot just tinkering with your ride..