Adrian Peterson deactivated by Minnesota Vikings for Week 2 after child abuse indictment

Aug 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) talks along the sidelines during the game with the Oakland Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium. Vikings win 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) talks along the sidelines during the game with the Oakland Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium. Vikings win 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Peterson will not play for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday after the team deactivated him in the wake of his indictment for reckless or negligent injury to a child after he repeatedly “whooped” his four-year-old child with a branch from a tree.

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An arrest warrant has been issued for Peterson who reportedly testified in front of a grand jury weeks ago as this investigation as been ongoing for some time.

Considering the severity of the charges and the fact that the case is still ongoing the Vikings had no choice but to do the right thing and hold out Peterson from Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.

The Vikings released a statement earlier saying, “The Vikings are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson. At this time, we will defer further questions to Adrian’s attorney Rusty Hardin.”

With Peterson out of the lineup for at least this week and possibly much longer, the Vikings will have to rely on Matt Asiata and rookie running back Jerick McKinon to carry the load at running back.

Needless to say the state of the Vikings running game is far less important than the health and well being of the little boy who was injured so severely that doctors reported the injuries to authorities and termed the injuries as a result of child abuse.