Celtics' Joe Mazzulla Shares Positive Jayson Tatum Injury Update

Tatum has been cleared for controlled five-on-five work as he continues his recovery from an Achilles injury.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 2:06pm

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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla provided a promising update on star forward Jayson Tatum's recovery from an Achilles injury. Tatum has been cleared for controlled five-on-five work with the team and recently participated in a practice session with the Maine Celtics. Mazzulla stated that Tatum is continuing to hit his checkmarks in the weight room and treatment room, and the main goal is to ensure he gets 100% healthy before returning to game action.

Why it matters

Tatum's return from the Achilles injury is crucial for the Celtics' playoff hopes, as he is the team's best player and an All-NBA performer. His recovery progress will be closely watched by the team and its fanbase, who are eager to see him back on the court as soon as possible.

The details

Tatum has been out of the rotation since injuring his Achilles in the second round of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Earlier this month, he was cleared for controlled five-on-five work with the team's coaching staff. Tatum has since taken part in a practice session with the Maine Celtics, where he was joined by some of Boston's end-of-bench talent. During his post-practice news conference, Mazzulla stated that Tatum is continuing to get better, work on his reads, and hit his checkmarks in the weight room and treatment room.

  • Tatum was cleared for controlled five-on-five work with the team's coaching staff earlier this month.
  • Tatum participated in a practice session with the Maine Celtics on February 21, 2026.

The players

Jayson Tatum

The Boston Celtics' All-NBA forward who has been sidelined with an Achilles injury since the second round of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Joe Mazzulla

The head coach of the Boston Celtics, who provided the update on Tatum's recovery progress.

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What they’re saying

“He's just continuing to get better. Working on his reads and then continuing to hit his checkmarks in the weight room and then in the treatment room as well. The main goal is just making sure he gets 100% healthy and continues to get better and better.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Head Coach, Boston Celtics (Sporting News)

What’s next

The Celtics and their fanbase will be closely monitoring Tatum's progress in the coming weeks to see if he can make an in-season return. If he does plan to get back on the court, a return should happen soon, as Tatum will need a sizeable runway to get himself back into shape and shake off any rust.

The takeaway

Tatum's recovery from the Achilles injury is a crucial storyline for the Celtics as they push for a deep playoff run. The team and its fans will be eagerly awaiting any updates on his progress, as his return could be the difference-maker in their championship aspirations.