Chicago PD season 13 is about to lose a key member of its cast. As reported in October, Patrick John Flueger will be exiting NBC’s crime drama for an unknown number of episodes due to Flueger taking a leave of absence from the series.
It’s unclear when Flueger’s last episode as Ruzek will air or how many episodes he’ll miss this season. All we know is that he’ll miss several episodes due to personal reasons, and there is a good chance that he’ll be out for a large part of the season.
The good news is that Flueger is expected to return to the series, meaning this should not be the last we’ll see of Ruzek on the show. That said, his absence will leave the Intelligence Unit down a member for an extended period of time, and the show should take inspiration from Chicago Fire in preparation for the exit.
Chicago PD season 13 should bring back Jesse Lee Soffer while Ruzek is out
With Patrick John Flueger taking a leave of absence from Chicago PD, the show is going to be without a fan-favorite, original member of the cast for several episodes. This is something that is not new for the One Chicago franchise, which is why Chicago PD should learn from one of its sister series when planning for the episodes ahead.
Just a few short years ago, Chicago Fire lost one of its leads for an extended period of time when Taylor Kinney took a leave of absence that resulted in him missing the last eight episodes of season 11. The show crafted a storyline that explained Severide’s absence in the show, and when it became clear that Kinney would be out for a longer stretch than expected, the show brought back an equally beloved character in the form of Jesse Spencer’s Matt Casey.
Getting to see Spencer back on Chicago Fire for those two guest appearances in season 11 was an amazing treat, especially for fans who were missing Kinney’s character. This is why Chicago PD’s creative team should look to do the same if Flueger’s leave ends up being one that keeps him out for an extended period of time as well.
This is where Jesse Lee Soffer could come into the mix.
Bringing Soffer back as Detective Jay Halstead in a guest capacity would be a smart move for Chicago PD as Halstead remains one of the most beloved characters in the One Chicago universe. Like Spencer’s return in Chicago Fire, Soffer’s return to Chicago PD would help fill the void left by Flueger’s absence and give fans the chance to see a beloved character back on their screens.
A well-written guest arc could explore where Halstead has been since exiting the show, while also bringing him back into the fold to work a case or two alongside his former team members in the CPD. We know Soffer remains on good terms with the franchise, having returned to direct many times since his exit, and there seems like no better time to bring him back to the show than to help the show amid the unexpected departure of Flueger.