NASHVILLE — With BenJarvus Green-Ellis taking his talents to Cincinnati, the leading returning rusher for the Patriots is Stevan Ridley, a second-year back from LSU. The same player who fumbled twice late last season, who was inactive for the AFC Championship game, and who suited up but didn’t play in the Super Bowl.

It was fair to speculate what role Ridley would serve in his second season, or if the fumbles would be difficult for a young player to shake.