Overview

• At New England Patriots joint practice on August 6 in Foxboro, Tatum was observed walking without a boot and with only a slight limp, marking his first public sighting since surgery.
• An anonymous NBA scout at late July’s CP3 Elite Camp in Las Vegas described Tatum’s mobility as “way ahead” of typical post-Achilles recovery standards.
• Celtics president Brad Stevens commended Tatum’s progress in June but affirmed that no return date will be set until medical staff confirm he is fully ready.
• Medical guidelines suggest Achilles ruptures require six to nine months for initial healing and nine to twelve months for a full sports return, yet Tatum’s rehab has outpaced these benchmarks.
• With Tatum’s timeline still open, the Celtics have restructured their roster and salary cap strategy for the 2025-26 season, relying on Jaylen Brown as their primary on-court leader.