Adrian Peterson Active and Ready to Play Against Carolina

vikings

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is playing this week against the Carolina Panthers.

Last Friday, one of Peterson’s sons, a 2-year-old who lived in South Dakota, died after allegedly being abused. Peterson said he would still suit up to play and he is on the active list for the Vikings Sunday.

The star running back released a statement explaining why he decided to play.

“My brother passed the night before the combine and I decided to go through with it,” Peterson said. “The same reason why I will play this week. You may ask why? God wants good to come from it. We mourn and grieve but heaven had the baddest welcoming party for my son. That knowledge gives me peace. I’m still hurt and feel the pain of life, but I’m able to function because of the peace and joy of knowing my loved ones are in a much better place.”

Before the baby died from his injuries, police arrested Joseph Robert Patterson on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated assault on an infant. Sioux Falls police said additional charges are being considered now that the child has died.

Independent journalism doesn't fund itself.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Back to top