Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has begun taking part in controlled five-on-five scrimmages with coaches as he rehabs the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in May 2025, ESPN’s Shams Charania said Sunday on NBA Countdown.
Charania explained that the five-time All-NBA selection has approached each stage of his recovery “aggressively,” but still must clear additional benchmarks before playing in a game. The next phase is expected to involve scrimmaging against the Celtics’ end-of-bench reserves, a step deemed necessary because full in-season practices are uncommon.
Tatum told reporters at the end of January that he remains uncertain about attempting a return this season. Team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens reiterated recently that the 27-year-old will not suit up until medical staff and all other decision-makers give full clearance.
“The best time for Jayson Tatum to come back is when he’s 110 percent healthy, he’s fully cleared by everybody that matters in that decision, and he’s got great peace of mind,” Stevens said.
Charania echoed that sentiment Sunday, noting that Tatum has indicated he wants to return only when he can play at his usual level rather than “a lesser percentage of himself.”
No target date has been set for the forward’s possible comeback.
Source: Hoops Rumors
