Jayson Tatum Shows Encouraging Progress in Achilles Rehab During Public Workout
It’s been eight months since Jayson Tatum’s season came to a screeching halt in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, when his right leg gave out beneath him at Madison Square Garden. Since then, the Celtics star has been grinding through rehab largely out of the public eye. But Monday morning in the Detroit area, we got our most extended look yet at just how far he’s come - and it was encouraging.
Before Boston’s shootaround at a local high school, Tatum went through a nearly hour-long workout in front of reporters. Shooting, passing, dribbling - the full spectrum of movement drills was on display.
And yes, he capped it off with a dunk that had social media buzzing. For a player coming off Achilles surgery, that’s no small feat.
This wasn’t just a few light reps or staged footage for the cameras. This was a real workout, the kind that suggests Tatum is making serious strides toward a return. It’s the most public glimpse we’ve had of his recovery since the injury, and the fact that the team was comfortable letting reporters watch it speaks volumes about where things stand.
Tatum has been teasing his progress on social media and has occasionally been spotted putting up shots after practices at the Auerbach Center. But most of his rehab has been kept behind closed doors - until now.
There’s still no official timeline for his return. Team president Brad Stevens has been consistent in his messaging: Tatum won’t be back until he’s “100% healthy.”
But Tatum has made it clear he wants to play this season, and his father mentioned an eight- to nine-month recovery window shortly after the injury. That timeline would put a potential return in the ballpark of late February or March, though again, nothing has been confirmed.
Stevens acknowledged last month that Tatum is eager to get back on the floor.
“Obviously, he’s itching to play,” Stevens said. “He hates watching.
But he’s also very aware of the importance of meeting every threshold. We’ve had a lot of great talks about that.
One of the things we love about this group - and it starts with the guys who’ve been here the longest - is they just love to play.”
And that’s been clear in Tatum’s presence around the team. Even though he hasn’t suited up this season, he’s been a constant fixture on the bench, home and away. That presence hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“It’s been amazing to see,” teammate Derrick White said Monday. “You know he doesn’t want to watch - he wants to get out there and play.
But he’s been great, supporting us every game. It’s been a lot of fun having him around.
I don’t know the exact timeline or how close he is, but it’s good to see him moving and being part of it.”
The Celtics have stayed competitive without their franchise cornerstone, but there’s no question what a healthy Tatum would mean for this team down the stretch. Monday’s workout doesn’t guarantee anything - there are still boxes to check, thresholds to meet.
But it was a clear signal that Tatum is getting closer. And for Boston, that’s a major development as the second half of the season looms.