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MPR News Staff

Vikings' Peterson charged in Texas with injuring his son; won't play Sunday

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Minnesota Vikings v St. Louis Rams
Adrian Peterson looks on from the sideline during a game against the St. Louis Rams Sept. 7.
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Updated: 7:10 p.m. | Posted: 5:18 p.m.

Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson has been indicted in Texas on a charge of injuring his son.

The team announced Peterson had been "deactivated" for Sunday's game against the Patriots and won't play.

After the Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff's Office confirmed the charge, Peterson lawyer Rusty Hardin released this statement:

Adrian Peterson has been informed that he was indicted by a grand jury in Montgomery County, Texas for Injury to a Child.

The charged conduct involves using a switch to spank his son. This indictment follows Adrian's full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter.

Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas.

Adrian has never hidden from what happened. He has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours.

Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning.

It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury.