Is Jayson Tatum nearing return? Boston Celtics get massive update on star

Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAYThu, March 5, 2026 at 6:51 PM UTC

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After nearly 10 months rehabbing a ruptured Achilles tendon, Jayson Tatum will reportedly play basketball for the Boston Celtics this season.

According to ESPN, Tatum may make his much-anticipated return as soon as Friday, March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. Per ESPN, Tatum will inform the team over the next day about his availability against Dallas.

In the first injury report for the game, the Celtics officially listed Tatum as questionable. Presumably, Tatum will undergo final preparations to ensure he's ready to go, but, either way, Tatum had been ramping up his rehab.

Last month, the Celtics announced that Tatum participated in portions of a G League practice.

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The news comes as a boost for a Celtics team that has outperformed external expectations, compiling a 41-21 record without its six-time All-Star. Boston is currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and is just 5 games back of the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.

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Tatum, 27, had suffered the injury May 12, 2025, during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. He has remained a steady presence around the team through its first 53 games of the season.

Achilles tendon ruptures are complicated injuries that require calculated and arduous rehabs.

In September, Tatum told USA TODAY Sports that he hadn’t fully ruled out a return to the court for the 2025-26 season, so this aggressive timeline indicates that he and the Celtics likely feel they can contend for an Eastern Conference championship this season.

Last season, Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jayson Tatum injury update: Boston Celtics star could return vs Mavs

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