Fans noticed that Sam Carver, played by Jake Lockett, was missing in Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 16, titled “In the Rubble.” His absence led people to wonder if it was a scheduling issue or something else. Here’s what happened and when he might return.
Why Jake Lockett’s Sam Carver was absent in Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 16
Jake Lockett’s character, Sam Carver, was not present in Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 16 because he has been on a self-imposed furlough since Episode 14. He is taking time away from Firehouse 51 to focus on his sobriety.
For those unaware, after his breakup with Violet in the previous season, he spiraled into self-destructive behavior, reconnecting with a toxic ex-girlfriend and turning to alcohol. However, he did eventually end that relationship and repaired his standing at the station, but his battle with alcoholism has been an ongoing challenge.
Despite attending AA meetings, he couldn’t fully commit to the program. Hence, Sam Carver’s relapse in earlier Chicago Fire episodes made this a major turning point. In Episode 14, Violet confronted him about his inconsistent attendance at meetings, where he got painfully honest. Finally, realizing he needed to take his recovery seriously, Carver made the difficult decision to take another furlough from the firehouse to enter rehab and truly focus on getting sober.
Violet, in particular, has been struggling with Sam Carver’s absence in Chicago Fire Season 13 Episode 16. She was seen writing a letter to him, further suggesting that their story isn’t over. With Sam Carver away working on himself and Violet clearly still emotionally invested, fans are hoping for a major reunion when he returns. While there’s no confirmed return date, the story suggests Carver will come back stronger and more focused than ever. Chicago Fire airs at 9/8c on Wednesdays on NBC.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.
