The 2026 One Chicago crossover event has come and gone, giving fans one of the most memorable Windy City Wednesdays ever — but one character was noticeably absent.
Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) hasn’t appeared in Chicago P.D. episodes since October 29, 2025’s “Miami,” and in a March 5 interview with TV Insider, showrunner Gwen Sigan clued fans in on the details surrounding Ruzek’s current on-screen storyline.
“He, story-wise, was taking some time to be with his father. We’ve kind of established that his father was not doing too well,” Sigan said. “And so when he comes back, we’ll learn a bit more about exactly what that looks like and what that means for him and how that’s also affecting a lot of decisions he’s trying to make right now with [his wife] Burgess [Marina Squerciati] and for his family.”
The longtime showrunner teased that the character will have a lot on his plate upon his return.
“So, he’s got a lot to deal with when he gets back,” she continued. “And then we’ll see [in the rest of] the season, some of that sort of play out with his father and how it affects his choices moving forward.”
Earlier in Season 13, fans were given some information that explained Ruzek’s prolonged absence. In “Heroes,” Desk Sgt.Trudy Platt (Amy Morton) found herself scrambling to get assignments out to officers before spotting Kevin Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins) during a tense moment. It was then that Platt asked Atwater about Ruzek’s whereabouts.
“Disco Bob’s not doing too well, so he needs a little time,” Atwater explained.
Disco Bob, of course, refers to Ruzek’s father, Bob.
Ruzek’s father suffers from Alzheimer’s, which was first revealed to his son in Season 12. Ruzek helped Bob select a solid long-term care facility and has consistently paid visits as his schedule allowed. Conventional wisdom suggests that Ruzek won’t be back at the Intelligence Unit until his father is feeling stable.
As it turns out, Disco Bob may be feeling better already.
When will Patrick John Flueger’s Adam Ruzek return to Chicago P.D.?
Fans don’t have to worry — Ruzek is expected to be reintroduced into the One Chicago universe sooner than later: He’ll return in next week’s March 11 episode of Chicago P.D. Season 13, “Meant to Be.”
Mark those calendars: it all goes down on Wednesday, March 11, at 10/9c — only on NBC.