The NFL's premier running back is officially back.
The league announced Thursday that Adrian Peterson has been reinstated as an active NFL player and may participate in all scheduled activities with the Minnesota Vikings. The reinstatement became effective Friday.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports, via a source involved, that Peterson will face no further suspension upon reinstatement. U.S. District Judge David S. Doty will decide in October how many game checks the Vikings star will lose, per Rapoport. It could be as many as three or as few as zero.
The Vikingsreleased a statement Thursday indicating that they "look forward to Adrian re-joining the Vikings."
Peterson was suspended on Nov. 18 stemming from a no contest plea on what the league called "an incident of abusive discipline" toward his 4-year-old son.
After playing the season opener, Peterson was placed on the Exempt/Commissioner's Permission List. He missed the final 15 games of the 2014 season.
Commissioner Roger Goodell informed Peterson that he must fulfill all remaining legal obligations in Minnesota and Texas, as well as additional counseling and treatments.
Now that Peterson is cleared to return to the gridiron, the next step is determining a winner in his ongoing saga with the Vikings.
"Uneasy" about returning to Minnesota after last year's turmoil, Peterson has made it clear, via agent Ben Dogra, that he wants a fresh start with a new team in 2015.
General manager Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer have repeatedly stated their intention to keep Peterson in purple and gold.
Rapoport recently reported that Peterson would like the standoff to reach its conclusion by the upcoming 2015 NFL Draft. If Peterson's camp cannot successfully broker a trade to a team such as the Cardinals and Cowboys by the draft's end, he will have little choice but to capitulate and rejoin the Vikings.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast breaks down Adrian Peterson's return and discusses the Cleveland Browns' new uniforms. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
