Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum injury timeline, Jayson injury update
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Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics watches from the bench during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on November 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.
In a stunning turn of events, the Boston Celtics could have injured superstar Jayson Tatum back as early as after the All-Star break.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, Tatum is pushing “really hard” to return to basketball activities by February or March.
“…All indications out there, and everything I’ve heard, is that he’s going to push really hard in February-March to get back out there on the floor, and be there with the team for most of the second half of this season,” Mannix said on his “NBA on NBC” podcast.
Mannix provided the monumental Jayson Tatum injury update while discussing the Celtics’ trade plans ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline, and why adding a center could elevate them to the clear-cut frontrunner to represent the East in the NBA Finals.
New Jayson Tatum Injury Update
“If Jayson Tatum can return, the Celtics have to look at their team and say, ‘We’re probably one big man away from competing for the crown in the Eastern Conference.'”
It’s hard to argue with Mannix’s assessment on the Celtics, who own the NBA’s best record (13-5), offensive rating (124.9) and net rating (10.8) since Dec. 1. During this stretch, they’ve completely flipped the preseason expectations that the C’s would likely treat the 2025-26 season as a gap year while waiting for Tatum’s return.
If Tatum does return by March, it’d mark one of the quickest recoveries any basketball player has ever made from a torn Achilles, the most devastating injury in sports. Tatum, who sustained the injury in May 2025, would essentially be back within 10 months — an unprecedented turn of events that can be attributed to advancements in sports science and Tatum’s commitment to his rehab process.
Jayson Tatum Injury Timeline
The 6-time All-Star was previously expected to miss the entire season, a recovery timeline that has been the norm for others dealing with an Achilles tear in recent years. While Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins all missed at least a full calendar year due to the same injury, Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton have been ruled out for the entire 2025-26 season with their Achilles tears. Even New Orleans Pelicans star Dejounte Murray has been sidelined since Jan. 2025 with no imminent timeline for his return from an Achilles injury.
Tatum has been extremely hands-on during his injury recovery, attending team meetings and film sessions, while also traveling to away games. His active presence has been deeply appreciated by his teammates, with Jaylen Brown highlighting how other superstar players weren’t traveling with their teams during their Achilles recoveries.
“A lot of guys that know they got an extended amount of time, they’re going to separate themselves mentally for a little bit or whatever,” Brown said, via Boston.com. “He’s been there. He’s been like an extra coach, in a sense. So it’s been kind of cool to see.”
“He’s been super active and he’s been around. It’s been dope to see. He’s been engaged and been on the majority of every flight, almost every film session. So that level of dedication, you can tell he’s eager to get back.”