Chicago Fire SPOILERS: Has Severide already left the show?

The end of the Chicago Fire episode “Run Like Hell” seemed as though it was setting up a storyline for this week’s episode. Severide (Taylor Kinney) told Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) that he was talking with Van Meter (Tom Hooper) about an undisclosed reason, and the episode cut to black before he could explain further.

All signs pointed to this being the reason that Severide eventually leaves the 51, but a recent report from TV Line suggests something that most of us hadn’t considered: what if the character has already left? What if the conversation with Kidd wasn’t a set up for an exit, but the actual exit?

Is Severide still on Chicago Fire?

It would be a tough realization, but given the mysterious circumstances that have surrounded Taylor Kinney’s exit, it would make sense. The Chicago Fire production team would not have a lot of time with the actor, meaning they would have to do some finagling to make his exit seem like a logical story development.

The irregularities in plot were made clear with that aforementioned conversation. Instead of there being a scene between Severide and Van Meter, or a slow build throughout the episode in which Severide weighs his options, we’re merely told about events that happened offscreen.

It’s implied that Severide and Kidd even discussed the Van Meter thing prior to their meeting at the bar, which is something else we weren’t privy to. Because the show is having to cram in a lot of story with limited Severide screen time, it would make sense that the actor would leave under similarly unexpected circumstances.

TV Line suggests that the episode airing Wednesday, March 1, may not even have Severide in it. We may find out that the character left the 51 in the time between last week’s episode and this one, and whatever details remain unclear will be explained by Kidd or one of the other cast members.

It would be disappointing to see Severide go so soon, but the absence of a dramatic goodbye or a big, heartfelt exchange between him and Kidd bodes well for his return.