Is Joe Cruz still on Chicago Fire?

Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) has been a centerpiece on Chicago Fire since the its inception. He’s been the comic relief and the dramatic focus of some of the show’s most beloved episodes. That being said, the character hasn’t been the star of an episode in quite some time.

Cruz’s status as a background character during the last stretch of season 10 has led some fans to speculate whether he’s still part of the 51. Is he still on the team? Is the character going to leave anytime soon?

Here’s a breakdown of Cruz and his current status on Chicago Fire.

Is Cruz still on Chicago Fire?

Thankfully, Cruz isn’t going anywhere. The character will remain a staple on Chicago Fire for the foreseeable future, as there have been no contract disputes or attempts on the part of actor Joe Minoso to leave the show.

As far as the reason Cruz has been pushed to the margins over the last few episodes, it’s merely a matter of priority in terms of larger subplots. The strained romance between Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Severide (Taylor Kinney) has been a major focus, and the departure of Casey (Jesse Spencer), not to mention his long distance relationship with Brett (Kara Killmer), before that.

Ironically, its the stability of Cruz that’s resulted in his being a background presence. He has a newborn son (named after his fallen pal) and is happily married, so his life is drama-free when compared to the rest of his 51 cohorts.

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Those who’ve been keeping up with season 10 know that this stability is brand new, however. Cruz kicked off the season with a near-death experience, and the trauma of nearly dying, coupled with the impending birth of his son, made for a pretty tense stretch. It got so overwhelming that Cruz seemingly lost his ability to fight fires.

Fortunately, Severide and the rest of the team were able to rally behind him and break him out of his growing phobia. He rebounded and has been back to his usual self ever since. It’s definitely nice to see, but we’re sure Cruz will encounter some exciting dramatic challenges before season 10 is up.

For the latest Chicago Fire season 10 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Fire category at One Chicago Center.