Jayson Tatum Injury Update, Latest on Celtics Star's Return Timeline in Fresh NBA Rumors

After missing the entirety of the 2025-26 season thus far, Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum is making significant progress in his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Sunday that Tatum has started "controlled five-on-five scrimmaging with coaches" and has "aggressively attacked his rehab at every turn." However, he noted that Tatum wants to come back "not a shell of himself, not a lesser percentage of himself," and he would need to feel like he's at 100 percent in addition to being cleared by the Celtics medical staff before returning to the court.

Tatum tore his Achilles during the second round of the playoffs last season, which called into question whether he would be able to play at all this season.

The 27-year-old Tatum has been among the NBA's top players for the majority of his eight-year career. He is a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, and he led the Celtics to a championship in 2024.

Last season, Tatum was named to the All-NBA First Team for a fourth consecutive year, and he matched his career best with a fourth-place finish in the NBA MVP voting by virtue of averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per contest in 72 games.

Before tearing his Achilles, Tatum was regarded as one of the most durable stars in the league, appearing in 72 or more games in four consecutive seasons.

With Tatum's status for this season being uncertain, the Celtics made a series of cost-cutting moves during the offseason, including trading away Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday, and allowing Al Horford to walk in free agency.

As a result, many doubted whether the Celtics would be able to maintain their recent level of success as a top playoff team and contender in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics have largely continued to thrive, though, as they are in second place in the East with a 34-18 record entering Sunday's game against the New York Knicks (33-19).

Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta and Sam Hauser are just a few of the players who have stepped up in a big way during Tatum's absence.