Ruzek’s absence on Chicago P.D. is nearing its end, and now we have some fresh intel on what to expect when the cop resurfaces.
Longtime cast member Patrick John Flueger, who plays Burgess’ husband and fellow Intelligence unit team member, took an unexpected leave of absence from the NBC drama to handle a personal matter, our sister site Deadline reported in Oct. 2025. As a result, Flueger’s character hasn’t appeared on the series since the Oct. 29 episode. The show was surprisingly nonchalant about Ruzek’s absence in subsequent installments, never really addressing it or giving any on-screen explanation for why Ruzek is MIA — until the most recent episode on Jan. 7. Burgess explained to Voight that there was an emergency with Ruzek’s father, Bob, so he was at his dad’s facility and, thus, couldn’t help with Intelligence’s current case.
An Instagram photo from co-star Marina Squerciati (aka Burgess), wishing the actor a happy birthday, revealed that Flueger was back on set with Squerciati, LaRoyce Hawkins (Atwater) and Benjamin Levy Aguilar (Torres) in mid-December. So when can viewers expect to see Adam Ruzek on screen again? Showrunner Gwen Sigan can’t divulge that specific date just yet, but she reassures Soaps.com that “he’s back,” and what’s more, he’ll be thrown right back into the fray after his return
On tap later this season is “a really fun” episode that puts Ruzek at the center of the story. “It’s very much an action ride. Like, it’s a crazy amount of action that we’re trying to do in our short shoots. So I’m very excited about that one. Hopefully, it’s going to feel like a little mini movie,” Sigan shares.
Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
