Update!

Adrian Peterson Reinstated by Minnesota Vikings Despite Child Abuse Charge, Will Likely Play in Sunday's Game

NFL team owners note "this is a matter of due process and we should allow the legal system to proceed so we can come to the most effective conclusions..."

By Rebecca Macatee Sep 15, 2014 7:10 PMTags
Adrian Peterson Joe Robbins/Getty Images

UPDATE: At 11:45 am PT, Adrian Peterson issued a statement on Twitter. In it, he wrote, "I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parents, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser. I am someone that disciplined his child and idd not intend to fuse him any injury. No one can understand the hurt that I feel for my son and for the harm I caused him. My goal is always to teach my son right from wrong and that's what I tried to do that day.) (To read Peterson's full statement, click here.)
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Adrian Peterson is back in the game.

The Minnesota Vikings deactivated the 29-year-old running back from Sunday's game, but in a statement Monday, team owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf announced that Peterson would be participating in team practice this week and is expected to play in Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.

"As evidenced by our decision to deactivate Adrian from yesterday's game, this is clearly a very important issue." said the team owners. "On Friday, we felt it was in the best interests of the organization to step back, evaluate the situation, and not rush to judgment given the seriousness of this matter. At that time, we made the decision that we felt was best for the Vikings and all parties involved."

On Friday, a warrant was issued in Texas for Peterson's arrest on a charge of reckless or negligent injury to a child, and on Saturday, the NFL star turned himself in to police. He was detained on a $15,000 and released by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office within 29 minutes.

Peterson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told E! News the charge against the athlete "involves using a switch to spank his son," noting, "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."

Peterson's lawyer also noted the NFL star has been in "full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter," and that, "It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury."

Vikings owners said the decision to allow Peterson back in the game "was made after significant thought, discussion and consideration," noting, "At this time, however, we believe this is a matter of due process and we should allow the legal system to proceed so we can come to the most effective conclusions and then determine the appropriate course of action."

"To be clear, we take very seriously any matter that involves the welfare of a child," read the Vikings statement, noting, "This is a difficult path to navigate, and our focus is on doing the right thing. Currently we believe we are at a juncture where the most appropriate next step is to allow the judicial process to move forward."

The team assured fans they "will continue to monitor the situation closely and support Adrian's fulfillment of his legal responsibilities throughout this process."

(Originally published Sept. 15, 2014, at 11:53 a.m. PT)