Tatum shares emotional message following major step in recovery

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Jayson Tatum shares emotional message following major step in Achilles recovery

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Feb 17, 2026 11:21 AM ET

Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles last postseason, and from the moment it happened, he made one thing clear: He wants back on the floor before this season ends.

The Boston Celtics forward has moved through rehab faster than most expected, and the confidence he's carried throughout has never really wavered.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum drops 40-week update

Tatum hit the 40-week mark recently and took a moment to reflect on what the process has looked like behind closed doors.

"40 weeks," Tatum wrote in a social media post. "I've really grown to appreciate this journey I've been on and allow time for me to pat myself on the back for showing up everyday!"

The Celtics’ thinking was always simple. If they stayed in playoff range and Tatum got cleared, he would come back and push for a run in what's shaping up to be a wide-open Eastern Conference.

40 weeks
I’ve really grown to appreciate this journey I’ve been on and allow time for me to pat myself on the back for showing up everyday!
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) February 17, 2026

That part of the plan still holds. What has shifted is how well the Celtics have handled things in his absence.

The Celtics are sitting second in the East at 35-19, holding a half-game edge over the New York Knicks. They have kept the door open without their best player, which only adds to what a return could mean.

Talk around his comeback has been growing louder too. Tatum partnered with NBC on a five-part series called "The Quiet Work," documenting his road back. Episodes air Sunday nights during NBC's basketball coverage.

The timing of that series, along with the league moving a Philadelphia 76ers game into a premium broadcast slot, has people connecting dots and speculating about when he walks back onto the court.

Tatum, though, has only said he hopes to play this season but hasn't committed to a date. His most recent step was a G League assignment with the Maine Celtics.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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