Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has started controlled five-on-five scrimmaging with coaches as he continues his recovery from a torn Achilles, NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Sunday.
Tatum has approached his rehab aggressively since suffering the injury in May 2025 during Game 4 of the second-round playoffs against the New York Knicks. He underwent surgery the following day and has been working through multiple phases of recovery.
Charania noted that Tatum still has “more boxes to check” before returning, including full team practice and regaining complete confidence in his leg. The Celtics medical staff must clear him 100% before he can resume official games.
The Celtics reshaped their roster during the 2026 trade deadline to support their championship aspirations and create financial flexibility. Nikola Vucevic was acquired from Chicago for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, bolstering frontcourt depth.
Boston also completed three salary-shedding moves: Chris Boucher was traded to Utah for two-way guard John Tonje, Josh Minott went to Brooklyn for cash considerations, and Xavier Tillman was dealt to Charlotte for a 2030 second-round pick. These moves placed the team roughly $840,000 under the luxury tax line.
The Celtics’ updated roster now features Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Vucevic, Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, and Amari Williams on standard contracts, with three two-way players: Max Shulga, Ron Harper Jr., and John Tonje.
Tatum’s injury occurred during a historic playoff performance, where he scored 42 points with eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks, tying Larry Bird and John Havlicek for the most 40-point playoff games in franchise history. The non-contact Achilles rupture happened with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden.
The Celtics currently hold a 34-18 record, second in the Eastern Conference, and are aiming to maintain their playoff positioning while Tatum works toward a potential return later this season.
Tatum’s return remains a key storyline for the Celtics, whose championship hopes hinge on the health and availability of their star forward as the 2025–26 season progresses.
