Back on Duty: Chicago PD’s Patrick John Flueger Returns After Brief Hiatus

If you were wondering why Adam Ruzek suddenly vanished from Chicago P.D., you can relax: Patrick John Flueger is back on set. The break is over, the rumors can take a nap, and yes, it looks like Ruzek will be back in the bullpen soon.

So what actually happened?

Flueger stepped away from filming earlier this fall for personal reasons. The first real sign of that came in October 2025, when Deadline reported he had paused work to handle a personal situation. On-screen, Ruzek’s last appearance aired October 29, and the show never gave an in-universe explanation for why he was gone. That silence did not go unnoticed by viewers, especially after he missed a handful of episodes. For a character who’s been a core piece of Intelligence from the jump, the sudden disappear-and-say-nothing approach was… odd.

Proof of life (and a birthday cake)

The solid confirmation that he’s back arrived December 11 via Marina Squerciati, who posted a birthday shoutout to Flueger on Instagram with an on-set photo. In the pic: Flueger alongside LaRoyce Hawkins and Benjamin Levy Aguilar — which is basically a neon sign that Ruzek is back with Intelligence and filming again. That was the first concrete evidence after weeks of speculation.

A couple of weeks before that, Squerciati also shared a candid snap from the Lyric Opera with Flueger hanging out with friends and co-stars. Fans took that as a hopeful sign he was easing back into things, and they weren’t wrong.

When will Ruzek be back on-screen?

With cameras rolling again, expect Ruzek to reappear sometime after the January 7 episode. The exact air date depends on production and scheduling — so brace for a short wait, but not a long one.

• October 2025: Deadline reports Flueger has stepped back from filming for a personal situation.
• October 29: Adam Ruzek’s most recent episode airs.
• Following weeks: Ruzek is absent from multiple episodes with no in-story explanation.
• Late November-ish: Marina Squerciati posts a candid from the Lyric Opera featuring Flueger.
• December 11: Squerciati’s Instagram birthday post shows Flueger back on set with LaRoyce Hawkins and Benjamin Levy Aguilar — first clear confirmation he’s returned.
• After January 7: Window for Ruzek’s on-screen return.

Bottom line: Flueger took a brief personal hiatus, the show kept it quiet, and he’s now back at work. It’s a slightly messy timeline, but the destination — Ruzek’s return — is what fans have been waiting for.