Chicago P.D. fans will see a significant shake-up in the Intelligence Unit, as longtime star Patrick John Flueger has taken an unexpected leave of absence from the NBC drama. Flueger, who has played the fan-favorite Officer Adam Ruzek since the show’s 2014 premiere, is temporarily stepping away to deal with a personal matter. The unannounced nature of his departure has prompted writers to immediately begin reworking scripts for the current Season 13.
The actor’s character, Ruzek, has been central to recent storylines, having finally married his longtime love, Detective Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati), in the Season 12 finale. Flueger’s hiatus will force the procedural to find a way to explain his character’s sudden absence from the 21st District’s most elite unit, with Ruzek’s recent personal stress possibly providing the on-screen explanation.
While the specifics of the personal matter have not been officially disclosed, sources indicate that Patrick John Flueger’s leave of absence is temporary. He is reportedly expected to return to the series later in the season. NBC and his representatives have not yet issued a formal statement on the matter.
The One Chicago universe has a precedent for accommodating extended leaves, most notably when Chicago Fire star Taylor Kinney took a nearly year-long hiatus for his own personal reasons in 2023. Viewers can remain hopeful that Flueger’s time away will be a brief period of rest before Ruzek rejoins the team.
