Sad news for Chicago P.D. fans. Patrick John Flueger is taking a break from the show. He plays Adam Ruzek on the NBC police drama. Flueger needs time off to take care of a personal problem.
The Break Came as a Surprise
Flueger has been on Chicago P.D. since 2014. That’s over 10 years! He was there from the very first episode. Now, the actor is stepping away to focus on his health.
No one expected this break. The show’s writers were surprised. They now have to change their scripts. They need to explain why Ruzek is not in the show anymore.
Reports say Flueger has been going through a tough time. He needs this break to get better.
Will He Come Back?
Yes! The good news is that Flueger will return. This is a temporary break. He plans to come back later in Season 13. But we don’t know exactly when.
The show has not said how many episodes he will miss. Fans will have to wait and see.
This is not the first time a Chicago show actor took time off. Taylor Kinney from Chicago Fire did the same in 2023. He was gone for 10 months. Then he came back. So there is hope that Flueger will return strong.
What About Ruzek’s Story?
Ruzek just got married! At the end of Season 12, he married Kim Burgess. Marina Squerciati plays Burgess. Fans call them “Burzek” and love this couple.
Ruzek and Burgess have a daughter named Makayla. They adopted her in Season 8. Now they are a happy family. They live in Canary, where Ruzek grew up.
But they are thinking about moving. They want better schools for Makayla. They also worry if their neighborhood is safe. These story points might explain why Ruzek leaves the show.
Ruzek also takes care of his dad. His father has Alzheimer’s disease. He lives in a nursing home. The show could say Ruzek needs more time with his sick father.
How Will the Show Handle This?
The writers will explain Ruzek’s absence. Maybe he will take time off to care for his father. Or maybe he and Burgess will move to a new neighborhood. Either way, the Intelligence Unit will miss him.
The team is already dealing with other problems. They were suspended but now they are back at work. Losing Ruzek makes things harder.
Fans Are Sending Love
People who watch Chicago P.D. are very kind. They are sending nice messages to Flueger. They want him to get better. They understand he needs time to heal.
One fan wrote: “Wishing him much healing and a speedy recovery.” The Chicago P.D. family is strong. They support each other.
What Happens Now?
Chicago P.D. airs on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. on NBC. You can also watch it on Peacock the next day.
Flueger will appear in a few more episodes soon. Then his character will leave for a while. Everyone hopes Flueger takes all the time he needs. When he feels better, he can come back. Fans will be waiting to welcome him back to the show.
