Vikings Reverse Adrian Peterson Decision and Ban Him From Playing

September 17, 2014 7:21 AM EDT

Updated 10:41 a.m. E.T.

Reversing their earlier decision, the Minnesota Vikings have placed star running back Adrian Peterson on the NFL’s exempt list until his ongoing child-abuse case is resolved.

Peterson has been charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child after injuring his four year-old son with a switch, a stripped tree branch. Despite the charges, the Vikings initially cleared Peterson — who surrendered to police Saturday before being released on $15,000 bail — to play in a game this weekend against the New Orleans Saints.

However, the Vikings now say they have placed Peterson on the Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission list — an effective indefinite suspension from all team activities — in order to allow Peterson to “take care of his personal situation until the legal proceedings are resolved.”

In a joint statement released in the very early hours on Wednesday, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf and team President Mark Wilf said:

“While we were trying to make a balanced decision yesterday, after further reflection we have concluded that this resolution is best for the Vikings and for Adrian. We want to be clear: we have a strong stance regarding the protection and welfare of children, and we want to be sure we get this right. At the same time we want to express our support for Adrian and acknowledge his seven-plus years of outstanding commitment to this organization and this community. Adrian emphasized his desire to avoid further distraction to his teammates and coaches while focusing on his current situation; this resolution accomplishes these objectives as well.”

Peterson himself responded to the news with a tweet:

And the NFL Players Association said Wednesday that Peterson “made a decision to take a voluntary leave with pay to take care of his personal and legal issues.”

NFLPA statement on Adrian Peterson pic.twitter.com/o5efqZE40N
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 17, 2014

The running back released a statement earlier this week denying that he was a child abuser. “I want everyone to understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child,” he said. “I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser. I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury.”

Peterson is also facing separate allegations of child abuse dating back a year, though his attorney flatly denied those claims. And while the Vikings grapple with Peterson’s case, the NFL Player’s Association said Tuesday evening it would appeal an indefinite ban against Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice which the league handed down after new video recently surfaced of Rice knocking his now-wife unconscious and dragging her body out of an elevator.

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