( CNN ) -- For some , going to work after losing a son would be unthinkable . For others , it 's a way to cope . That 's the route Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson took , choosing to play Sunday , just two days after the death of his son , who was living with his mother in South Dakota . The woman 's 27-year-old boyfriend , Joseph Robert Patterson , has been arrested on felony battery and assault charges in the child 's death , according to Sioux Falls , South Dakota , police . `` Even if it 's bad , I try and take the good from it . That 's the way I approach life , with all situations , '' Peterson told reporters after the game . `` I never thought about not playing . It was all about going out there and praying that I had the strength to get through and help my team , so that was my focus . '' Peterson , who rushed for a season-low 62 yards and caught three passes for 21 yards in the Vikings ' 35-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers , took some heat for the decision from people who questioned how he could play a football game so soon after losing a child . In a text to a Fox Sports reporter , Peterson said he decided to play Sunday 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 . `` We mourn and grieve , but heaven had the baddest welcoming party for my son . That knowledge gives me peace , '' Peterson said , according to Fox . `` I 'm still hurt and feel the pain of life , but I 'm able to function because of the peace and joy of knowing my loved ones are in a much better place . '' Peterson confirmed the child was his in a tweet Friday . He tweeted that another child , Adrian Peterson Jr. , lives with him and is fine , and he asked people to stop distributing pictures of that child . On Friday , 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 Friday . After Sunday 's game , 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 ? ''
NFL running back plays two days after learning a son had died . Peterson said he never thought about sitting out 35-10 's game . `` God wants good to come from it , '' NFL reported Peterson said in a text message . Peterson 's Minnesota Vikings lost Sunday to the Carolina Panthers in Sunday 's game .