Vikings' Adrian Peterson Heads To Court For Child Abuse Charges

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson heads to court this week to face charges of child abuse after he allegedly beat his 4-year-old son with a switch.

Peterson has been benched by the Minnesota Vikings as his court proceedings play out. The 29-year-old athlete is scheduled to appear in a courtroom in Montgomery, Texas on Wednesday morning.

ESPN legal analyst Roger Cossack told ABC News that Peterson may be seeking a quick trial date so he can complete the court process and hopefully start playing for the NFL again, although his recent legal troubles could be putting his career in jeopardy.

"That trial date is expected to be somewhere 6 to 12 months from now," Cossack said. "If he is convicted, combining his age and the seriousness of what happened, his career could be in jeopardy."

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Peterson is expected to plead "not guilty" on Wednesday. The NFL player has also sought to debunk media reports that claim his charity has misused thousands of dollars in donations.

Another report suggested Peterson was in "denial" about possibly having to end his career with the Vikings.

"Several league sources say Adrian Peterson has not come to grips with the fact that his 2014 has all but officially ended," ESPN's Chris Mortensen said Sunday morning. "His goal to break Emmitt Smith's all-time rushing record is now a fading dream. And his future is in doubt after being indicted for these child abuse charges related to inflicting injuries on his four-year old son."