Cassel isn't worried about reception from Chiefs fans

As the Vikings hit the road for the first time in the preseason on Saturday, general fan displeasure toward the quarterback is expected to shift from third-stringer Christian Ponder to presumed regular-season starter Matt Cassel.

But Cassel doesn't sound worried or eager to prove anyone wrong as he prepares to play at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since he was released by the Chiefs after the 2012 season.

"I'm excited to go back to Kansas City," he said. "I've got a lot of close family friends there. We enjoyed our time there. My three children were born there. So I've got a lot of good memories in Kansas City. It will be fun."

Cassel, who still has a home in Kansas City, said he has no "ill will" toward the Chiefs.

"I've moved on," he said. "They've moved on."

We'll see about the latter.

It cost the Chiefs the 34th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft to acquire Cassel, who went 10-5 as an injury replacement for Tom Brady in New England in 2008. After going 10-5 and throwing 27 touchdown passes and seven interceptions during his 2010 Pro Bowl season, Cassel spent the next two seasons going 5-12 with 16 touchdowns, 30 turnovers and one ugly incident in which he was cheered by the home crowd after being injured in a game against the Ravens in 2012.

"You know," he said, "I'm really excited about playing the Kansas City Chiefs. I've been focused on them all week. It's something that I really haven't given it much thought. The bottom line is we got a game to play and a season to prepare for."

Priefer was suspended for the first three games of the regular season because of an anti-gay comment he made to Kluwe in a team setting in 2012. He can reduce the suspension to two games by completing sensitivity training.

While he's gone, longtime NFL special teams coordinator Joe Marciano will fill in.

"He's a very knowledgeable coach," Priefer said. "He's been successful. … We've been trading ideas as we've been game-planning those first three ballgames. We just haven't gotten as far as [Week 3 against] New Orleans yet because it's a lot of work. But we're getting there."

Priefer said he's not concerned kicker Blair Walsh is 0-for-2 from beyond 49 yards and missed a 33-yard PAT last week.

Priefer said Walsh made 47 of 50 field-goal attempts with no more than one miss from beyond 49 yards in the team practice periods heading into last week's second preseason game.

• Running back Adrian Peterson missed practice for excused personal reasons for the second consecutive day Thursday. He will attend Saturday's game but won't play per an earlier decision to rest him again.