Jayson Tatum taking full-contact step as Celtics stay patient

The Celtics aren’t rushing Jayson Tatum back. But they are finally seeing him look like himself again.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Tatum has reached a significant checkpoint in his recovery from a ruptured Achilles, participating as a full-go in five-on-five scrimmages with Celtics. Charania shared the update Wednesday on ESPN’s NBA Today.

That’s not nothing.

Tatum hasn’t played since suffering the injury during the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals, and Boston has taken a deliberately conservative approach throughout the rehab process.

Charania noted that the consistent message around the organization has been simple: Tatum will return when “JT feels like JT.”

In other words, this isn’t about a target date or a box being checked. It’s about comfort, confidence, and trust in the process.

Boston has allowed Tatum to lead that timeline, with the medical staff and coaching group following his cues rather than pushing the pace.

That patience makes sense. Achilles injuries don’t forgive shortcuts, especially for a player who carries as much responsibility as Tatum does on both ends of the floor.

There’s still no official return date. But full-speed scrimmages are often the last meaningful step before games matter again.

And for the Celtics, that’s the part worth circling.