September 12, 2014 5:49 PM EDT
Updated at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sat., Sept. 13
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been indicted in Montgomery County, Texas for injury to a child. The indictment stems from allegations that Peterson used a switch to spank his son, according to his lawyer Rusty Hardin.
Peterson turned himself in to law enforcement authorities early Saturday and was freed shortly after on $15,000 bail, reports NBC. The Vikings announced that he has been deactivated for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.
Hardin defended the star player in a statement, saying Peterson “never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury.” He added, “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.”
A former NFL MVP, 29-year-old Peterson has played in six Pro Bowls, rushed for more than 10,000 yards and scored more than 90 touchdowns.
Peterson testified before a grand jury “weeks ago,” according to a reporter for the NFL Network.
Last year, one of Peterson’s sons died in Sioux Falls, S.D. after allegedly being abused by the boyfriend of his mother.
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