The Minnesota Vikings announced that controversial running back Adrian Peterson will return to practice and is expected to play in their Week 3 match against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Peterson was deactivated from their Week 2 game against the New England Patriots on Sunday after the 29-year-old was indicted on child abuse charges.

Vikings owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf said in a statement that Peterson will be reactivated, but they clarified that the team is taking the issue seriously, as proven by their decision to remove the eight-year veteran from their squad during the match against New England.

"Today's decision was made after significant thought, discussion and consideration. As evidenced by our decision to deactivate Adrian from yesterday's game, this is clearly a very important issue," Zygi and Mark Wilf said in a statement on Monday.

"On Friday, we felt it was in the best interests of the organization to step back, evaluate the situation, and not rush to judgment given the seriousness of this matter. At that time, we made the decision that we felt was best for the Vikings and all parties involved. To be clear, we take very seriously any matter that involves the welfare of a child," the owners added.

However, it is unclear at this point how their stance will change after Houston KHOU-TV reported that Peterson was accused of abusing another son in a separate incident. The mother of Peterson's 4-year-old son, different from the mother of the child involved in the previous case, filed a report to the Child Protective Services.

Meanwhile, Peterson issued an apology, saying that he has learned a lot from his current situation. The veteran running back also promised to change the way he will discipline his children moving forward.

"I have learned a lot and have had to reevaluate how I discipline my son going forward," Peterson said. "But deep in my heart I have always believed I could have been one of those kids that was lost in the streets without the discipline instilled in me by my parents and other relatives."

Peterson, who is scheduled for his first court appearance on Tuesday, could be imprisoned for two years and be fined $10,000 if found guilty of the child abuse charges against him.

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