I was using Linux 5.11.0-27-generic version and got a notification about software updates. Once running the updates, the system told me not everything could be installed but that I could use the "install partial updates" or something. Afterwards, I let the process remove any obsolete packages.
However, after the update and restarting my system, I no longer am connected to the Internet because the "Wired" settings have disappeared. I do have the "VPN" and "Firewall" options, however.
Did you manually install any driver for your network card?
If that is the case, you need to reinstall that driver after each kernel update unless you also install dkms.
For a temporary solution, you can also boot into a previous .37 kernel and delete this .38 kernel from Synaptic package manager.
Good question.
I myself holding back this .38 kernel at the moment after I saw some NVidia related issues. Skipping one kernel version should not have any ill effect on your system.