Rod will not reset mower

My Craftsman riding mower has a Briggs & Stratton motor 331877-2371

I had to jump off of the mower to get my grandson. So the mower shutoff. Then when I went back to try and start it, no luck, battery went dead. I had to pull the little rod in the back to roll it to the shed. Yet now I cannot put it back in gage to mow. Is there a certain order I should have turned everything prior to starting? Please advise.

Thank you.