Christian Ponder is returning to Minnesota on Saturday for the Raiders’ second exhibition game against the Vikings.

It’s just a preseason game, but he’ll be facing the team that made him the No. 12 pick in the 2011 draft, a squad he — and Adrian Peterson — actually led to the playoffs a year later. That 2012 season was his high point. The Vikings went 10-6, he threw for close to 3,000 yards with 18 touchdowns against 12 interceptions.

But Ponder missed the playoff game with an injury and was benched a couple of times during the 2013 season and barely played last year after Teddy Bridgewater, another first-round pick quarterback, took over as the starter.

Overall, Ponder’s Minnesota tenure ended on a sour note and he expects to hear it a little bit from the fans on Saturday.

“Oh, I’m going to get booed,” Ponder said. “I’m trying to figure out, we were talking about it in the quarterback room, what I should do when I get out on the field? Should I take a bow, or what? What’s going to happen? I’m expecting some boos, but it’s all fun though.”

Clearly, Ponder isn’t stressing too much about the Minnesota reaction. He had a solid debut as the Raiders’ backup quarterback, going 6 of 8 for 59 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception on the final play of the first half.

Ponder’s in a position with the Raiders where his role is fairly well-established. Derek Carr is the starter, he was signed to be the backup. While there’s some competition with Matt McGloin for the No. 2 spot, it’s still a fairly defined role and that likely enables him to stay loose and he’ll plan to enjoy Saturday, whatever the reaction is.

“I’m going to enjoy what I’m doing whether fans are cheering or booing,” Ponder said. “If it doesn’t happen, great, if it does happen, I’m prepared.”

Practice is just about to start, so check me on Twitter at @Jimmy_Durkin and I’ll have more afterwards.