Celtics Insider Predicts Jayson Tatum Injury Return By Early March

It’s been four months since Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks.

On Friday, Celtics beat writer John Karalis of The Boston Sports Journal made a bold prediction that Tatum could return to action in March.

Karalis discussed the 27-year-old’s recovery on the newest episode of the “Celtics Talk Podcast.”

“I think that he could be back by March — like, early March,” Karalis said. “You’ve got a guy in his complete physical prime getting surgery almost immediately from one of the best (surgeons) — from the guy. I can see him post-All-Star break starting to ramp up.”

The insider added that, while a March return would be just 10 months following the injury, he wouldn’t consider that “rushing” the process.

“Every time I bring this up, people say, ‘Don’t rush him, don’t rush him.’ This is not rushing,” Karalis said. “When I say, ‘early March,’ I mean early March where every trainer, every doctor, the Pope — everybody comes in and is like, ‘Nope, this is good, man. We’re covering all of our bases.’ They all come in and be like, ‘Nope, he’s ready to go.'”

Regardless of whether Tatum is able to come back with a surprise March appearance, this will be the first season of his career where he’ll miss a significant part of the campaign.

The 2017 draft pick has suited up in at least 64 games in each of his first eight NBA seasons, with his low mark coming during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign, which only lasted 72 contests.