Exciting news for One Chicago fans! For the first time in over five years, the franchise has orchestrated a massive three-show crossover event. Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD are coming togethe

r in an explosive storyline titled “In The Trenches.” The event revolves around a catastrophic gas explosion and fire at a city government building, bringing first responders from all three shows into action.

Viewers can anticipate thrilling team-ups and the debut of several newer cast members who have joined the franchise since the last crossover in 2019. However, while many familiar faces will return, one major character will be noticeably absent—Joe Cruz.

Why Cruz is Missing from the 2025 One Chicago Crossover

Despite the event featuring nearly all series regulars across the One Chicago universe, fans will quickly realize that Joe Minoso’s character, Joe Cruz, is absent from Chicago Fire’s crossover storyline. This decision wasn’t accidental but rather a deliberate creative choice following the recent arc involving Cruz’s past.

Leading up to the crossover, Cruz found himself haunted by his history when he was forced to confront his connection to the death of gang leader Flaco Rodriguez, a storyline dating back to season 1. The situation escalated when Flaco’s cousin, Junior, was released from prison and immediately sought out Cruz. What started as a tense encounter quickly spiraled into threats, blackmail, and an eventual dangerous shootout at a stash house.

In the episode preceding the crossover, Cruz made a heartfelt confession about his past misdeeds, acknowledging the many questionable choices he made in dealing with Junior. While he avoided criminal charges, he faced professional consequences—being suspended for two weeks due to conduct unbecoming of a firefighter. This storyline directly resulted in Cruz’s absence from the crossover, a decision that the showrunners felt was necessary for maintaining narrative integrity.

The Show’s Decision to Stick to the Suspension

Showrunner Andrea Newman confirmed that Cruz’s suspension meant he would not be involved in the high-stakes crossover. “He’s the one character who’s not in the crossover,” Newman told One Chicago Center. “He has to pay the cosmic price for what happened. It really felt like, when do we suspend him? And as we were building over the season, it was clear—you don’t get to be in the crossover. What you did, you were bad. It makes sense.”

While some fans might have hoped for Cruz to be called in given the scale of the disaster, the writers stood firm on his suspension, ensuring that actions had real consequences.

When Will Cruz Return?

Although Cruz was absent from episode 11, his return timeline remains uncertain. There’s a possibility that his suspension could extend into episode 12, leading to Minoso missing two consecutive episodes. However, fans can rest assured that Cruz isn’t gone for good. The good news is that he will be back soon, hopefully rejoining Chicago Fire for the remainder of the season. Stay tuned to see how his return plays out!