NFL to reinstate Peterson

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will be reinstated today, ending one of the league’s more complex and embarrassing suspensions. The NFL told Peterson on Thursday that he would be able to rejoin the Vikings but that he was expected to continue taking part in counseling and treatment programs stemming from his arrest for disciplining his 4-year-old son last year with a switch. Peterson’s agent has said he wants his client to play elsewhere, but the Vikings have said they plan to keep Peterson, who is set to earn a base salary of $12.75 million next season.

SWIMMING

Michael Phelps qualified fastest in the 100-meter butterfly at his first meet in eight months. The 18-time Olympic gold medalist touched first in 52.92 seconds Thursday at the meet in Mesa, Ariz. Phelps has returned to competition for the first time since serving a six-month suspension for his second drunken driving arrest. Tim Phillips was second-fastest in 53.02, followed by Olympian Ryan Lochte in 53.17. Phelps was third at the halfway mark before rallying to win his heat. The top eight advanced to the evening final at Skyline Aquatic Center.

TENNIS

Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka both exited the Monte Carlo Masters in the third round Thursday, and Rafael Nadal continued his road to recovery by overcoming John Isner in three sets. Federer, who played his first tournament in nearly four weeks, made too many mistakes in a 6-4, 7-6 (5) loss to Gael Monfils after Wawrinka — the defending champion — was routed 6-1, 6-2 by Grigor Dimitrov.

FOOTBALL

The woman who accused former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston of sexually assaulting her in 2012 filed a lawsuit against Winston on Thursday, two weeks before the NFL draft. In the lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Florida, former Florida State student Erica Kinsman accused Winston of “forcible rape.” Winston, who won the Heisman Trophy and led the Seminoles to a national championship during the 2013-14 season, was not questioned by the Tallahassee Police Department for nearly two weeks after it learned of the allegation in early 2013. Prosecutors ultimately declined to charge Winston, who said the encounter was consensual.