EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Two months ago, around the time the Minnesota Vikings were losing their second preseason game, Adrian Peterson was given some surprising news. The star running back says he found out then he had a 2-year-old son living in Sioux Falls, S.D., named Tyrese Robert Ruffin. He had been working with Tyreses mother to arrange a meeting with the boy when he received a call last week that the child was in the hospital with severe injuries. Peterson raced to South Dakota last Thursday, where he saw little Tyrese for the first time. The boy died a day later in an alleged case of child abuse, and Peterson has been trying to come to grips with it ever since. Peterson attended Tyreses funeral Wednesday and returned to Minnesota for practice on Thursday. His voice wavered when he discussed Tyrese publicly for the first time, trying to grapple with mourning the death of a son he never got to know. "I was planning on seeing him. I had a talk with his mom and we got some things together as far as financially helping her," Peterson said. "Unfortunately, this situation took place. Its devastating." A man the boys mother was dating, 27-year-old Joseph Patterson, is being held on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery. Tyrese died after Patterson was arrested, and prosecutors plan to convene a grand jury to consider more serious charges. "It was a difficult day, just taking in the circumstance and the whole situation," Peterson said of the funeral. "A child was buried. Thats difficult for anyone." Peterson played against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, rushing for 62 yards on 10 carries in a 35-10 loss, and he plans to play against the New York Giants on Monday night. Its been a theme for Peterson for nearly his entire life -- football has been a refuge in difficult times ever since he was a youth. "A lot of people wont ever understand the situation that Im in and see it the way Im seeing the situation," he said. "Its tough, but Im able to deal with that and got a good supporting cast around me thats been supporting me through this tough time." Peterson thanked his teammates and the Vikings organization for their support. "Theyve been great, organization, teammates, theyve been supporting me as well," he said. "I cant tell you how many calls Ive gotten and texts from the guys up top in the organization and players just making sure that Im OK and Im doing well." He has always prided himself on finding the positivity even in the darkest of times -- and now he finds himself searching again. "Im standing strong, man. I am," Peterson said. "My main focus has been on my son and their family down there in Sioux Falls. Just trying to wrap my head around things and trying to stay focused and play ball as well. So things have been tough, but I can handle a lot. Im built for anything that comes my way. This right here will pass." Peterson said he has been in touch with authorities in South Dakota to stay on top of the proceedings and didnt expect to miss any more time this season to deal with the situation. "I have the contacts that I need to be able to stay involved as far as the investigation," he said. NOTES: Peterson only practiced on a limited basis on Thursday because of a sore hamstring. ... K Blair Walsh (left hamstring), S Harrison Smith (turf toe on left foot) and CB A.J. Jefferson (right ankle) did not practice. Raheem Sterling England Jersey . Nick Young scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which lost five of its last seven before trouncing the Pelicans, who beat them handily last week in New Orleans. Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry scored 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who led by 20 points in the first half before coasting to their 12th win in their last 13 regular-season meetings with New Orleans. Danny Rose Jersey . Nwaneri, who was born in Dallas and attended Naaman Forest High School in nearby Garland, Texas, tweeted, "Its official! Im coming home, Im coming home. http://www.englandsoccerpro.com/Jamie-Vardy-England-Jersey/. The Force had two men, including former Wallabies No. 8 Ben McCalman, in the sin-bin in the dying minutes of the match, but were able to resist a late Highlanders surge to post a four-try, bonus point win. Trent Alexander-Arnold England Jersey . 98 jersey in a game yet, and already its a big seller. Kieran Trippier Jersey .K. Subban has picked the right time of the year to go on an offensive tear.Its a historic night in downtown Winnipeg as the Phoenix Coyotes are in town for at MTS Centre as Paul Maurice makes his Jets head coaching debut. Viewers in the Jets region can watch the game live on TSN Jets at 6:30pm ct/7:30pm et or listen live on TSN 1290 Winnipeg. Maurice, who has NHL head coaching experience in Carolina and Toronto, agreed to take over the team from Claude Noel, who along with assistant coach Perry Pearn, who were relieved of their duties on Sunday. The Jets (19-23-5) Jets seventh in the Central Division with 43 points. They trail the Minnesota Wild by 12 points for the final Western Conference wild card playoff spot. Ondrej Pavelec (11-19-4, 3.14, .898) gets the call in goal looking to end a personal five-game losing streak. Dustin Byfuglien, who played forward in Saturdays 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets and will likely again play up on Monday, has one goal and two assists in his last two games.dddddddddddd Tonight marks the first of three games between these teams this season. The Coyotes have lost their last two games and four of five entering tonight. Their most recent loss came Saturday at home against the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 5-3. The Coyotes (21-14-9) are fifth in the Pacific Division on 51 points. They are four points behind the Wild for that last wild card berth. Team Canadas Mike Smith (15-11-8, 2.89, .910) will start in goal. Coyotes captain Shane Doan, equipment manager Stan Wilson and vice president of communication Rich Nairn are the remaining three members of the Coyotes organization who were part of the Winnipeg Jets before the move to Phoenix. This will also be the first NHL game in his hometown for Winnipeg native Michael Stone. ' ' '