Patriots defensive lineman Kyle Love tweeted this week from the barber’s chair, noting that his long hair was undergoing a significant cut. Thankfully for Love, that’s the only cut he’ll need this offseason.

After being knocked out of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game with a knee injury early in the first quarter, Love learned this week that he won’t require surgery. A combination of rest and rehabilitation should be enough to help Love recover from what was diagnosed as a knee sprain.

Love started the AFC Championship Game next to Vince Wilfork but came out of the game after the first series and didn’t return.

“When you go into the game with three d-tackles and you lose one, that’s kind of tough,” Wilfork said after the game.

Love had worked his way back into the starting lineup for the AFC Championship Game after Brandon Deaderick had assumed that role for the final six games of the regular season. He is under contract for 2013, and enters his fourth NFL season, all spent with the Patriots.