Jerod Mayo says the most challenging part of training camp has been learning the playbook.

The Providence Journal / Bob Thayer

FOXBORO — Trial by fire.

Sometimes that is the best way to learn.

Patriots first-round pick Jerod Mayo has been thrown into the mix early and often this preseason and, so far, he’s had his ups and downs.

After recording three solo tackles against Baltimore, Mayo recorded seven (five solo) in each of the Patriots last two preseason games. He leads the team with 17 tackles.

“I’m still trying to make strides every day,” Mayo said. “It’s not getting easier. It’s getting harder, but that’s expected from this camp.”

Mayo said that the hardest part of training camp has been learning the playbook.

“Just trying to learn all of the adjustments and things like that. … The playbook is so big it’s going to take time,” Mayo said.

Mayo is a quick learner. At the University of Tennessee last year, he led the Southeastern Conference in tackles with 40, and was named First Team All-SEC.

He said that he demands a lot from himself, and that’s why he believes he’ll be a successful linebacker in the NFL.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself, but I did that at every level,” Mayo said. “I just want to be great.”

Odds and ends

Jason Webster (cornerback), Matt Light (tackle), Billy Yates (guard) and Stephen Spach (tight end) all returned to practice yesterday. Light had not been on the field since the third day of training camp.

Defensive backs Brandon Meriweather and Mike Richardson, fullback Kyle Eckel, offensive linemen Stephen Neal (PUP), Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly, Ryan O’Callaghan, Oliver Ross and Russ Hochstein, tight end Benjamin Watson, defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith, and wide receivers Wes Welker and Sam Aiken were not on the field during the media portion of practice.

roblee@projo.com