The Minnesota Vikings and Adrian Peterson are dealing with a very tough situation, as the running back was reported to be in Sioux Falls while dealing with a "personal crisis" and was away with the team and now reports have come out that his two-year-old son was beaten and is critically injured and may not survive.
According to ESPN.com and Pro Football Talk, Peterson's son is in critical condition and based on reports from Deadspin.com and City Pages, his son was beaten by his mother's boyfriend and the mother is a woman that had a "secret" child with Peterson and it is NOT the child that is known to be Peterson's son named Adrian Peterson Jr. TMZ and other reports have said that the child is in critical condition and now Pro Football Talk reports that the boy may not recover and could be taken off child support.
Nelson Peterson, Adrian's father, said that the boy is Adrian's son and the man, Joseph Patterson, a 27-year-old, is being held in custody on two felony counts of aggravated battery and aggravated assault domestic on an infant and on ESPN.com reports say that he was in court Friday after police were called to the home on Wednesday. Police and EMS went and found the child unresponsive and he was taken to the hospital where he was placed on life support.
Peterson was away from the team and returned on Friday and he was gone on Thursday, although the team did not confirm where he was. The police said that the man taken into custody was the boyfriend of the child's mother and that she had moved away to Sioux City soon after having the baby and ESPN.com also stated that Peterson does not have regular contact with the mother.
The Deadspin.com report says that sources said this child is not known by the public and that he is being held on life support on a ventilator and that it could be removed soon if he does not show signs of improvement. The charges against the man likely would be elevated if that happens.
The Vikings and Panthers are playing on Sunday and Peterson's mind will likely be elsewhere, although he is expected to play and start for the team with no issues. He has over 400 yards rushing this season and has five touchdowns, leading the league.
