Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson‘s suspension has been overturned by a judge.
In December, the NFL Players Association filed a 75-page lawsuit on Peterson’s behalf against the NFL in U.S. District Court in an attempt to get the suspension overturned. Judge David S. Doty heard arguments in the case on Feb. 6.
The NFL can appeal Judge Doty’s decision overturning the suspension. The league said it would review the ruling.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith issued a statement on Thursday following the judge’s ruling:
“This is a victory for the rule of law, due process and fairness. Our collective bargaining agreement has rules for implementation of the personal conduct policy and when those rules are violated, our union always stands up to protect our players’ rights. This is yet another example why neutral arbitration is good for our players, good for the owners and good for our game.”
Peterson was suspended indefinitely for the remainder of the NFL season in November after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault for allegedly hitting his four-year-old son with a switch. The plea came after Peterson was indicted in Texas on charges of child abuse in September, after which he was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.
The running back only played one game in 2014.
Peterson appealed the NFL’s indefinite suspension to an arbitrator appointed by commissioner Roger Goodell, but the appeal was denied on Dec. 12.
Under the terms of the suspension, Peterson would not be reinstated until at least April 15, at which point he would have been required to petition Goodell for reinstatement.
Despite the judge’s ruling, Peterson’s future with the Vikings remains unclear. Though he is under contract for next season, the three-time first-team All-Pro running back told ESPN he is “still uneasy” about playing in Minnesota in 2015. Peterson’s agent reportedly had a dispute with Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski at the NFL combine.
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