Hennepin County prosecutors announced Friday the filing of a child protection petition for another 4-year-old child of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

The filing of a Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) petition means the county now is actively providing child protective case management services to two of Peterson's children.

The county attorney, however, said there has been no allegation or finding of abuse involving the second child and the petition is nothing more than a technicality, legally required because of Peterson's case in Texas.

The two children have different mothers and do not live together.

On Tuesday, the Vikings' MVP pleaded no contest to recklessly injuring his 4-year-old son when the boy was visiting Peterson in Texas last May. Peterson, 29, had previously acknowledged whipping the boy with a switch, but argued that he was disciplining him in what he believed to be an appropriate manner, similar to how he was raised.

His plea to the misdemeanor was not an admission of guilt. Peterson must serve 80 hours of community service and pay a $4,000 fine. He also remains on probation for two years, meaning he must check in monthly with a court officer and take random drug tests. If he violates his probation and is arrested on any other matter, prosecutors will withdraw the deal and proceed with a felony injury to a child charge against Peterson.

County Attorney Mike Freeman's office said the Texas case made it necessary to open a file in Hennepin County for every child of Peterson's living there. The two 4-year-olds are Peterson's only children in Hennepin County, the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors also said the mother of the child at issue in the latest petition has been helpful and protective of her child. The latest petition means that Peterson cannot have unsupervised contact with the second 4-year-old.

The petition didn't identify the gender of the second child, but birth records examined previously by the Star Tribune show that Peterson fathered a boy and a girl to different mothers in May and June 2010. He has fathered at least six children out of wedlock.

Peterson was married earlier this year.

The injuries to the first child were discovered by a pediatrician during a routine visit when the boy returned to Minnesota. The doctor noted bruising and 10 visible switch marks to the boy's thighs, buttocks, hand and scrotum.

Peterson hasn't played for the Vikings since the first game of the season. He is on the commissioner's exempt list, still drawing his salary. His playing status for the remainder of the season remains unclear. The NFL commissioner's office is reviewing his case.

Peterson's criminal defense attorney in Texas did not comment on the latest petition.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747

@rochelleolson