Adrian Peterson’s son dies after alleged assault

It was unclear whether the reigning MVP would play on Sunday, despite practicing for much of the week. CBS reports that Peterson didn’t have a relationship with his son, but that has no bearing on the tragedy.

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Peterson will stick with his decision to play in the game despite the death of his two-year-old son on Friday in Sioux Falls, S.D., due to injuries sustained from an alleged aggravated assault at the hands of the mother’s boyfriend. The veteran running back told reporters on Friday he was going to play against Carolina, a statement made before it was known his son had passed away.

Joseph Patterson, 27, has been charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery and has been ordered held on $750,000 cash bond.

Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, has been charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery of an infant, but the state’s attorney is likely to review the case for additional charges. Patterson is reportedly the boyfriend of the child’s mother and was home alone with the boy on Wednesday when the injuries that left the child in critical condition occurred.

The Argus Leader reports that Patterson has had previous accusations of abuse, including two protection orders asked for by the mother of Patterson’s child and a simple assault charge in 2012. A cash bond was set at $750,000 for Patterson on Friday.

UPDATE: Peterson’s son died on Friday night, according to the police.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson made a brief statement to reporters Friday afternoon pertaining to an alleged assault on his two-year-old son in South Dakota on Thursday.