The Minnesota Vikings benched Adrian Peterson for Sunday's game after his attorney said he had been indicted by a Texas grand jury on a charge of child abuse. 

Attorney Rusty Hardin says the charge accuses Peterson of using a branch, or switch, to spank his son. He says Peterson has cooperated with authorities and "used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son." Hardin says Peterson regrets the incident but never intended to harm the boy. 

The Vikings say Peterson will not be active for Sunday's home game against New England. 

The allegations come during a week in which the NFL has been under heavy scrutiny for the way it handled a domestic violence case involving former Ravens running back Ray Rice and his then-fiancee.