Minnesota star to play through the heartbreak of the death of his infant child.
Minnesota superstar running back Adrian Peterson has opened up why he has chosen to play in week six of the NFL season, just days after learning of the death of his two-year-old son.
“My brother passed the night before the combine and I decided to go through with is,” Peterson said before suiting up to play the Carolina Panthers.
“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 little 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 knowing my loves ones are in a much better place.”
Police in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said a two-year-old boy died from injuries sustained in an assault on Wednesday but did not name the child.
However, Peterson’s father, Nelson Peterson, told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the boy was his grandson.
Peterson himself thanked fans and fellow players for their support in recent days, although he declined to discuss specifics.
“I really appreciate all the support that I’ve been receiving from fans, the Vikings organisation,” Peterson said.
“This is a private matter and I would ask you all to please just respect my privacy and not ask at all about the situation at hand. Thanks.”
The Vikings said on their website that Peterson had rejoined the team on Friday after traveling to South Dakota to deal with a private matter.
Prior to the boy’s death, Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, had been arrested on two counts of aggravated domestic assault and aggravated battery of an infant, court documents showed.
Patterson was being held on $750,000 cash bond police said.
Police said they were called to Patterson’s apartment on Wednesday where they found the two-year-old boy unresponsive. Doctors later determined his injuries were consistent with abuse.
The boy had recently moved to the home with his mother.
Patterson has a history of domestic abuse against his own son and the boy’s mother, also from Sioux Falls, the paper said, citing court records.
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