Jayson Tatum nearing return to Celtics’ lineup after 10-month absence with Achilles tear

When Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon against the New York Knicks in the playoffs last May, his family, friends and teammates ached for him. Their pain was evident in the Boston Celtics locker room at Madison Square Garden.

Friday could be another emotional day for those who love Tatum, but for far more enjoyable reasons. After a 10-month absence, the Celtics upgraded him to questionable on Thursday afternoon, clearing the way for his potential season debut against the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum has missed the entire 2025-26 season to date after suffering the injury during that Game 4 loss to the Knicks in the second round. He underwent surgery the following day. Now, he could join the 41-21 Celtics with about a month remaining of the regular season to work through the rust and reacclimate to game action.

Tatum said in September his aim was to return this season, though he and the Celtics maintained that he would only suit up when he was physically and mentally ready.

His rehabilitation process presented challenges on each of those fronts. In late January, Tatum revealed he had some doubts about how he would fit back into a team that was overachieving without him.

“That’s something I contemplate every day,” Tatum said on “The Pivot Podcast” when asked how much he thinks about how he will fit back in when he returns. “More so about the team. If or when I do come back this season, they will have played 50-some-odd games without me, so they have an identity this year or things that they’ve felt have clicked for them. And it’s been successful. They’re the (second) team in the East up to this point.

Despite those worries, Tatum continued to check off every necessary box in his rehabilitation. He was assigned to the Maine Celtics for a G League practice on Feb. 6. About two weeks later, he acknowledged he had advanced to playing five-on-five scrimmages with Celtics teammates.

“It’s a long journey,” Tatum said on Feb. 21. “You can’t rush it. You’ve got to take your time and move at your own pace and not really compare yourself to other guys. Everybody’s different, so you just have to run your own race.”

The Celtics’ roster has been overhauled since the last time Tatum suited up. Veterans Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis and Luke Kornet all departed during an offseason of salary shedding. Several young contributors have taken advantage of increased opportunities, namely Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo González. Jaylen Brown has put together a career season, while Payton Pritchard and Derrick White have stepped up one rung in the Celtics hierarchy.

Tatum, whose streak of four straight first-team All-NBA berths will end this season, is rejoining a team that has put together the statistical profile of a title contender. Despite his absence, the Celtics sit in second place in the Eastern Conference standings as of Thursday and hold the NBA’s second-best net rating and offense.

While Tatum admitted the winning formula “might look different” than it did the last time he played, he also believes the Celtics can learn how to adapt. Pritchard, the longest-tenured Celtic outside of Tatum and Brown, does not believe that it will be difficult.

“It’s not like we’re bringing him in to guys he’s never played with,” Pritchard said. “So it’ll be an easy transition.”