In the wake of Judge David Doty’s ruling in the Adrian Peterson case on Thursday, Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy reportedly will seek immediate reinstatement.

Hardy and his attorneys met with representatives of the NFL Players Association on Thursday, USA Today reported, and could file a grievance against the NFL. The Charlotte Observer reported that Hardy will seek prompt reinstatement.

Hardy has been on the Commissioner’s Exempt List since last September due to a domestic-abuse case, and the league is still investigating whether he violated the personal-conduct policy.

Hardy and his team apparently are hoping Doty’s ruling hastens the return of his eligibility. He is scheduled to be a free agent on March 10.

Citing the Ray Rice arbitration result, which ruled that the league’s new, tougher personal-conduct policy could not be applied retroactively, Doty on Thursday granted a petition to vacate the NFL’s indefinite suspension of Peterson, who had made a plea deal in a child-abuse case stemming from last spring.

Peterson will have to go back to arbitration to seek reinstatement by the league. His original appeal was denied by Harold Henderson. In Doty’s 16-page ruling Thursday, he said Henderson “disregarded the law of the shop and in doing so failed to meet his duty.”

Hardy was convicted last summer of assaulting and threatening to kill his former girlfriend. He appealed the ruling and was assigned for a jury trial that was to start Feb. 9 in Charlotte, N.C. But the case was dismissed because his accuser could not be found to testify.

The league has petitioned the court to see the case file as it determines his playing status. In the meantime, the NFL has said Hardy’s status with the league “remains unchanged until we fully review the matter.”

Hardy played only one game last season but received $13.1 million from Carolina after being designated with the franchise tag in February. He was placed on the inactive roster in Week 2 and then put on the exempt list before Week 3.