MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings were already going to face a difficult decision this winter about Adrian Peterson, with the star running back turning 30 next year.

That was before the public relations problem his child abuse case created for the team. The stiff punishment delivered by the NFL on Tuesday, a suspension without pay for at least the rest of the season, put his future with the Vikings in further doubt.

Commissioner Roger Goodell told Peterson he will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15 for his violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. Peterson, who pleaded no contest on Nov. 4 to misdemeanor reckless assault for injuries to his 4-year-old son, planned an appeal that the NFL Players Association pushed to be handled by a neutral arbitrator.

Peterson’s salary for the season was $11.75 million. He will keep the money accrued while on the special exempt list he was placed on Sept. 17. But the NFL’s punishment has now amounted to a 14-game ban, with six unpaid weeks. That’s the equivalent of a fine of more than $4.1 million.

There are three years and $45 million remaining on his contract, but none of it is guaranteed. The Vikings would take only a $2.4 million hit on their 2015 salary cap if they cut him before next season.

Even if Peterson were to win a shorter suspension with an appeal, the Vikings actually playing him yet this year would be an implausible scenario given the heat they have taken and the long time Peterson has been away.