Jayson Tatum Injury Update: Celtics Star Shows Promising Recovery Progress
Boston Celtics fans finally have some good news regarding Jayson Tatum. Nearly three months after tearing his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the All-Star forward is walking again and making encouraging strides in his rehab.
Jayson Tatum is no longer wearing a boot on his surgically repaired right leg, a positive sign after what has been a challenging offseason for Boston. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, “He’s out of the boot and walking again. He’s been rehabbing six days a week and appears to be ahead of schedule.”
While Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has not provided an official timeline for Jayson Tatum’s return, the expectation remains that he will miss the entire 2025–26 season. Still, fans have taken to social media expressing optimism that Tatum could return fully healthy for the 2026–27 campaign.
The 26-year-old has been doing much of his rehab work at UT-Chattanooga and has made appearances at events in St. Louis without his walking boot, further fueling optimism about his recovery.
Boston will lean heavily on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White next season, especially with Brown recently cleared for workouts following offseason knee surgery. However, the Celtics’ cap-related roster moves—parting ways with key players to avoid the luxury tax’s second apron—have left major questions about their frontcourt depth, now featuring Georges Niang and Luka Garza.
With the team in a transitional phase, Boston may focus on developing younger talent in 2025–26. Still, if Tatum’s rehab continues to progress ahead of schedule, the Celtics could once again find themselves back in title contention as soon as 2026–27.
