Nearly three months after tearing his Achilles tendon during the Eastern Conference semifinals, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is displaying encouraging signs of recovery. On Wednesday, Tatum attended the New England Patriots camp and was able to walk across the field without the support of a boot, a visible indicator of his advancing rehabilitation.

Expert Observations Highlight Positive Progress

Tatum’s injury occurred on May 13 during Game 4 against the New York Knicks, abruptly halting his impressive season. According to Heavy Sports reporter Steve Bulpett, a scout closely monitoring his recovery expressed surprise at how well Tatum was moving, stating he looked significantly ahead in the healing process.

“shocked to see how well he was moving.”

—Steve Bulpett, Heavy Sports

Celtics Leadership Cautiously Optimistic About Returning to Play

Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Celtics, praised Tatum’s advancement roughly six weeks after surgery. He emphasized that while progress is promising, the timeline for Tatum’s return remains uncertain and will be determined with careful input from medical staff and Tatum himself.

“He’s actually progressed great, but I don’t know what that means in regard to projected timelines,”

Stevens said.

“But that will be in consultation with him … and everybody else to make sure when he hits the court, he is fully ready, and fully healthy. And that will be the priority.”

—Brad Stevens, Celtics president of basketball operations

Tatum’s Performance and the Road Ahead

Before the injury, Tatum delivered an outstanding season, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. Although his Achilles injury will require a significant rehabilitation period, the progress noted at the Patriots camp offers hope that he is advancing faster than initially expected. The Celtics and their fans will closely watch his recovery as the priority remains ensuring he returns only when fully healthy and ready to compete again at the highest level.