Chicago PD is losing another cast member in season 13 — Patrick John Flueger. Flueger has starred as Adam Ruzek since the NBC police procedural’s pilot episode, making him one of five original stars left in the series. In addition to Flueger, Jason Beghe as Hank Voight, Marina Squerciati as Kim Burgess, and LaRoyce Hawkins as Kevin Atwater have been around since the start.
Unfortunately, the number of original Chicago PD cast members will dwindle to three in season 13 with Flueger’s scheduled departure. However, the good news is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Just because Flueger’s Ruzek is set to leave the One Chicago TV show, that doesn’t mean he will be gone forever from this fictional universe.
Patrick John Flueger Is Taking A Leave Of Absence From Chicago PD
The Original Cast Member Will Exit The NBC Show Temporarily
According to a report from Deadline, Flueger is taking a leave of absence from Chicago PD in season 13, meaning he is expected to return at some point later in the season. As for why he’s exiting temporarily, Flueger is stepping back from the series to deal with a personal matter. It has not been specified what that personal issue entails, though.
The report claims that the actor has been going through a tough time as of late, resulting in his departure. As such, the audience can expect Ruzek to be absent in a handful of upcoming Chicago PD episodes. But it remains uncertain when Flueger’s final episode before his break will be.
Since NBC just announced his leave of absence, Flueger might still appear in a few more season 13 episodes. Only time will tell when the Chicago PD star will make his abrupt exit. Until then, fans can cherish the last few moments with Ruzek before Flueger says goodbye (for now).
How Chicago PD Season 13 Could Write Out Ruzek
It’s Unclear Why Ruzek Will Be Missing
Deadline‘s exclusive report doesn’t contain any details concerning how Chicago PD season 13 will write Flueger’s character out of the series for the time being. However, it does reveal that the writers are scrambling to rework future scripts to factor in Ruzek’s absence. The actor’s leave of absence was unexpected, which is why the writers are rushing to modify the scripts for upcoming episodes.
As mentioned above, it’s unknown which episode will be the first to be missing Ruzek, making it difficult to predict the reasoning behind his absence. Based on everything that has happened in season 13 (and before that), though, perhaps Ruzek will leave to take care of his father. As some will recall, Ruzek’s dad has Alzheimer’s and is currently residing in a nursing home.
Ruzek might take a break from Intelligence to spend time with his father, especially if his condition worsens. Or Ruzek and Burgess’ discussion in Chicago PD season 13, episode 3, about moving could play a role in his departure. For those who might not remember, Burgess wants Makayla to attend a different school, which is about an hour away from their Canaryville home.
Ruzek could take some time off to explore his family’s options and contemplate what is best for Makayla and her future. Or, Chicago PD can take the simple route and have Ruzek leave the city to complete some training or attend a seminar. Whatever the case, One Chicago is losing an original cast member, and almost everything is up in the air.
Will Flueger Return To Chicago PD?
Nothing Suggests That Flueger’s Absence Will Be Permanent
This isn’t the first time a One Chicago actor has taken a leave of absence from their respective show, and it probably won’t be the last. In the past, most stars who have temporarily departed the One Chicago universe have returned. For example, Taylor Kinney eventually reprised his role as Kelly Severide in Chicago Fire season 12 after a 10-month leave.
So, since the report claims that Flueger is expected to return as Ruzek later in Chicago PD season 13, it stands to reason that he will, in fact, come back. As for how long that will take, anyone’s guess is as good as ours. Flueger could be gone for only a handful of episodes and return before the midseason finale in late 2025.
Or the Chicago PD actor might not reunite with his costars until the season 13 finale in the spring of 2026. Everything is unknown, as of the writing of this article. All that is certain is that Flueger will be missing from a handful of episodes of the One Chicago TV show’s 13th season and is scheduled to return before it ends.
Until then, fans can rest assured that Ruzek’s absence isn’t permanent. Unless something happens between now and the end of season 13, Flueger will eventually reprise his role as the beloved character. And the hope is that Ruzek’s departure won’t interfere too much with what the writers had planned for Chicago PD season 13.
