Grieving Adrian Peterson May Not Play This Sunday

Sep 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) on the sidelines after rushing for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

It seems like a completely meaningless concern in light of the horrible news about Adrian Peterson’s 2-year-old son Ty, but don’t 100% count on Adrian taking the field Sunday against the Carolina Panthers at the Metrodome. A team source told Josina Anderson that Peterson may have just gotten caught up in the emotion of the moment when he told reporters he would take the field and that Peterson’s status “could change” before game time.

“I think we should allow Adrian to grieve tonight,” the source said. “The plan is to talk to him tomorrow for now.” Another source close to Adrian said they would advise Peterson to sleep on it before making a final decision.

Peterson reportedly had not yet learned of his son’s death when he made his statements to reporters at Winter Park. We can only speculate on where Adrian’s head might be after learning the terrible news and having a night to think deeply about things, and frankly it would be irresponsible to engage in such speculation.

Just to add another gut-wrenching layer to an already horribly sad story, TMZ reports that Adrian had never met his son – referred to somewhat melodramatically as a “secret son” by City Pages – before seeing him in the hospital in Sioux Falls. Peterson must already have known then that the boy’s chances for survival were slim, as he reportedly was the one advising family members to put the boy’s organs up for donation.

TMZ says Peterson only learned 2 or 3 months ago that the boy was his, after being contacted by the mother, and was planning a trip to Sioux Falls to meet the child.

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