Adrian Peterson, star running back for the Minnesota Vikings, has been indicted Friday afternoon on suspicion of causing reckless or negligent injury to a child, a felony, but not arrested.

The Vikings initially said he would play Sunday against the New England Patriots, but later said he would be deactivated and not play.

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Peterson practiced at the Vikings' Eden Valley facility on Friday, despite a warrant for his arrest being issued by the Montgomery County, Texas district attorney's office. He had missed Thursday's practice. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said the 29-year-old running back was taking off a normal "veteran's day."

It was the latest blow to the powerful NFL that last week was in a turmoil over video showing former Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice, knocking his wife unconscious in a Las Vegas elevator, then dragging her body into a hotel lobby.

Montgomery County is in suburban Houston with its county seat at Conroe. Authorities simply said they "true billed" Peterson, meaning he had been indicted, but didn't lay out the charges.

Rusty Hardin, Peterson's attorney, said the charges related to Peterson spanking one of his sons with a switch just like his father had done to him when he grew up in East Texas. Hardin said Peterson cooperated with authorities and testified voluntarily for hours before the grand jury.

Peterson loved his son and simply was disciplining him, Hardin said. He "deeply regretted" unintentionally injuring the child, Hardin said.

This was not the first time Peterson has been surrounded by controversy regarding a child. Although he wasn't involved personally, a two-year-old child of his was killed last October when the boyfriend of the child's mother allegedly assaulted the boy. Since then, Peterson had married Ashley Brown, his longtime fiancee, and vowed to tighten up his lifestyle.

Peterson has been to six Pro Bowls, the NFL all-star game, and rushed for more than 10,000 yards and 86 touchdowns during his eight-year career. He also has accounted for more than 1,700 in receiving yards on 208 passes.

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