Adrian Peterson Indicted in Possible Child Abuse Case

It’s been an extremely bad week for the NFL, Roger Goodell, and running backs in particular.

First Ray Rice was dropped from the Ravens, and suspended indefinitely by the NFL after the second part of his domestic violence video against his wife surfaced. Now it looks like the league’s top running back Adrian Peterson may have just landed himself in some hot water as well.

The Minnesota Vikings running back has been indicted in Texas for “reckless or negligent injury to a child,” according to the Fox affiliate in Houston.

Child Protective Services confirms with TMZ that they are working on a case involving Peterson and an 11-year-old boy.

More from TMZ:

“Sources connected to Peterson tell us (that) the alleged victim is a male child from Minnesota who was visiting (Peterson) back in May at the running back’s Texas home. We’re told the child returned home to his mother in Minnesota who noticed injuries and took the child to a doctor. A short time later, the doctor contacted authorities in Texas to report Peterson.”

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports that Peterson’s arrest stems from disciplining his son with a switch.

Arrest of Adrian Peterson (reported by @MarkBermanFox26) stems from the disciplining of a son with a switch, source says. He’s been indicted

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2014

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

Peterson is expected to turn himself in, according to Fox Sports. Peterson missed practice on Thursday, an absence that Vikings coach Mike Zimmer described as a normal day off for the 29-year-old, “Veteran’s day,” Zimmer said.

There didn’t seem to be any sign that charges were pending on Friday. Peterson was back at practice and he was “laughing and joking,” according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The running back’s status for Sunday’s game against New England is up in the air and the Vikings are deciding whether Peterson will play.

Could this be a case of Peterson just giving his son a good old fashion beating, or did he take things too far?

Only time will tell. Hopefully the NFL won’t rush to make any hasty decisions on this issue to try and save face and improve their image.

This story is still developing…