Adrian Peterson’s NFL Reinstatement Set For April 17

The NFL will reinstate Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on April 17.

The NFL is set to reinstate Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on April 17. 

According to NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling, “the league announced Thursday that Adrian Peterson will be reinstated Friday as an active NFL player and /4/participate in all scheduled activities with the Minnesota Vikings.”

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport and his source (via Wesseling) say that Peterson will not be suspended any further once the league reinstates him. U.S. District Judge David S. Doty will determine the number of game checks Peterson will lose, which could range from none to three. 

BREAKING: Vikings RB Adrian Peterson was advised that effective Friday he will be reinstated as an active NFL player. pic.twitter.com/eorPmtoDaY— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 16, 2015

The Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Mark Craig obtained the official statement from the NFL regarding Peterson’s reinstatement:

“Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was advised today that effective tomorrow he is reinstated as an active player and /4/participate in all scheduled activities with the Vikings.

“In a letter from Commissioner Roger Goodell, Peterson was informed that he is expected to fulfill his remaining obligations to the authorities in Minnesota and Texas, as well as the additional commitments Peterson made during his April 7 meeting with the commissioner regarding maintaining an ongoing program of counseling and treatment as recommended by medical advisors.

“Beyond the requirement to comply with his court obligations and plan of counseling, Peterson was reminded that his continuing participation in the NFL depends on his avoidance of any further conduct that violates the Personal Conduct Policy or other NFL policies.

“Any further violation of the Personal Conduct Policy by Peterson would result in additional discipline, which could include suspension without pay or banishment from the NFL.

NFL: “Adrian Peterson…was advised today that effective tomorrow he is reinstated as an active NFL player…” pic.twitter.com/QA3Z4hDoFK— BuzzFeed Sports (@BuzzFeedSports) April 16, 2015

“Peterson was suspended without pay last November 18 for the remainder of the 2014 NFL season for violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy in an incident of abusive discipline that he inflicted on his four-year-old son last May.

“Peterson pled no contest on November 4 in state court in Montgomery County, Texas to reckless assault of the child.” 

For their part, the Vikings issued a statement about Peterson re-joining them on their official website on Thursday which reads,”The Minnesota Vikings have been informed by the NFL that Adrian Peterson has been reinstated. We look forward to Adrian re-joining the Vikings.”

Peterson hasn’t played since last season’s opener which the Vikings won against the St. Louis Rams, 34-6. He rushed for 75 yards on 21 carries in that game. Craig says Peterson is unlikely to participate in Minnesota’s offseason program which starts on Monday, April 20.

God’s Undeniable WILL pic.twitter.com/d5CYvVV21P— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) April 17, 2015

A grand jury indicted him on Sept. 12, 2014 for disciplining his son in /4/of that year with a switch — a tree branch, per ESPN Minnesota Vikings reporter Ben Goessling. Five days later, the NFL placed him on the commissioner’s exempt list with pay.

The Vikings running back then pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless charges on Nov. 4 for hitting his son with a switch, per Goessling. Two weeks later, the league suspended him and was placed once again on the commissioner’s exempt list on Feb. 26.

Peterson revealed to ESPN on Feb. 19 he had been following the league’s requirements for reinstatement, even meeting with psychiatry instructor Dr. April Kuchuk for counseling and treatment, per Goessling. He then met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this month to discuss his reinstatement.

The 30-year-old Peterson, the 2012 NFL MVP, has rushed for 10,190 yards and 86 touchdowns on 2,054 carries in 104 career regular-season games for the Minnesota Vikings, per ESPN stats. 

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