Christian Barmore was selected by the Patriots with the 38th pick of the 2021 NFL draft and played in all 17 of New England's regular-season games. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots rookie DT Christian Barmore to undergo MRI on injured knee?

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/9/22

The status of one of the New England Patriots' most promising youngsters on defense for the first round of the playoffs is very much in doubt.

#Patriots standout DT Christian Barmore, who was carted off today, will have an MRI on his knee tomorrow, source said. The initial exams were promising, indicating no major injury. As we’ve seen, the MRI could tell a different story, but at first glance there is some good news.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2022

It remains unclear how much time Barmore could miss, per sources. More tests coming. https://t.co/GK68wnrhFa
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 10, 2022

Barmore was selected by the Patriots with the 38th pick of the 2021 NFL draft and played in all 17 of New England's regular-season games. Entering Week 18, the rookie had 41 tackles, two passes defended, 1.5 sacks and was tied with Deatrich Wise Jr. for second on the Patriots in quarterback hits with nine.

New England fell to the Miami Dolphins 33-24 on Sunday, meaning that the Patriots would enter the postseason as a wild-card team and the Buffalo Bills had won the AFC East. The two rivals are awaiting the result of Week 18's "Sunday Night Football" matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers to find out whom they will play in the opening round of the playoffs.

If Los Angeles wins, Buffalo will host the Chargers and New England will travel to face the Cincinnati Bengals. If the Raiders win, the Patriots will take on the Bills again in the first round of the playoffs, in Buffalo.

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