The One Chicago franchise has lost an original cast member as an important figure steps away from their long-term role on Chicago P.D. So far, the story of Chicago P.D. season 13 has seen a number of cast members get a chance to shine. Its focus has been on the aftermath of Charlie Reid’s death, which Voight helped set up.
Now, in a report from Deadline, it has been confirmed that Patrick John Flueger, who portrays Adam Ruzek on Chicago P.D., will be taking a leave of absence from the show to address a personal situation. The statement did not reveal why he will be stepping away from the series. However, he is expected to return later in season 13.
His absence from the cast of Chicago P.D. comes as a surprise, with the report claiming scripts for later episodes are being adjusted to reflect Flueger’s absence. The report also makes mention of an unspecified difficult matter the actor has been dealing with, including bringing alcohol on-set during production. However, the reason for his upcoming absence remains unclear.
Flueger’s Ruzek has been part of Chicago P.D.’s team since season 1, introduced as a young recruit tasked with undercover work by Senior Detective Alvin Olinsky. He’s grown into a central part of the team over the years, while also having a rocky romantic relationship with Detective Kim Burgess. The pair got engaged in season 11 and married in season 12.
Following the end of Chicago P.D. season 12, the pair have been a key focus of season 13. Their new family together after adopting a young girl shows they have to be more cautious than usual. Despite how big a focus the pair have had, the show will need to pivot quickly now that Flueger is stepping away.
It’s not the first time someone from the One Chicago universe has departed for a short amount of time. Chicago Fire lead cast member Taylor Kinney, who stars as Kelly Severide, stepped away in the middle of season 11, returning in season 12. It appears Flueger’s hiatus will be shorter, with his personal matter not keeping him from returning.
Ruzek coming back later in the season will allow his story with Burgess to continue, despite getting put on hold for right now. Since episodes are filmed in advance, he’ll likely show up in some upcoming episodes. While his timeline for returning to Chicago P.D. is unclear, it’s a relief to know he won’t be gone for good.
New episodes of Chicago P.D. air Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.
