( CNN ) -- The man who authorities accused of assaulting the 2-year-old son of NFL player Adrian Peterson now faces a murder charge . State prosecutors released a grand jury indictment Monday that charges Joseph Robert Patterson with second-degree murder . The new charge comes more than a week after the death of the Minnesota Vikings running back 's son , who was living with his mother in South Dakota . Patterson , the 27-year-old boyfriend of the toddler 's mother , is accused of recklessly causing `` serious bodily injury to the child , '' according to the indictment . He also faces charges of first-degree manslaughter , aggravated battery of an infant and abuse or cruelty to a minor . Authorities have said that the child suffered injuries to his head consistent with abuse . `` Patterson will be booked under the new charges and will be arraigned in the near future , '' the Lincoln County Office of the state 's attorney said in a statement Monday . Peterson returned to the field last week . In a text to a Fox Sports reporter , Peterson said he decided to play again for the same reason he participated in the NFL 's skills testing event for potential draft picks a day after his brother died in 2007 . `` God wants good to come from it , '' he told `` NFL on FOX '' sideline reporter Laura Okmin in a text before the game Sunday . He tweeted thanks to fellow players , some of whom had taken to the social network to defend his decision to play . `` The NFL is a fraternity of brothers and I am thankful for the tweets , phone calls and text messages from my fellow players , '' he tweeted after his son 's death . After the game last Sunday , Peterson 's teammate , tight end Kyle Rudolph , praised Peterson 's determination and heart . `` I ca n't imagine , you know , the heavy heart that he had today , being out on the field , '' Rudolph said . `` But he spoke to us right before the game , right before he took the field and said he was going to give it his all , for all four quarters , and that 's exactly what he did . '' `` He said , ' I 'm going to give it my all , and I expect you guys to do the same , ' '' Rudolph said . `` For a guy like that , how can you not ? ''
Minnesota Viking Adrian Peterson 's son died earlier this month . An indictment charges ' Michael Patterson of second - degree murder . Prosecutors say he will be booked on new charges and tried . He is accused of ' ` ` serious bodily injury to the child ''