Serious Real-Life Injury Sidelines Original Chicago Fire Star: ‘I Got Knocked Out’
One character has been missing from two Chicago Fire Season 13 episodes, leaving fans understandably worried. Find out what happened to David Eigenberg, the actor who plays Christopher Herrmann, that had him sidelined from the show “for a bit.”
What Happened to Herrmann on Chicago Fire?
Fans wondered why Cruz and Herrmann were missing from Season 13, Episode 6, “Birds of Prey,” which aired on November 6. While Cruz was back in the mix in Episode 7, titled “Untouchable,” on November 13, Herrmann was once again missing.
Good news, however, as Herrmann will be back for Chicago Fire Season 13, Episode 8, titled “Quicksand.” The synopsis explains: “Herrmann and Mouch prepare to take their officer exams; Cruz receives a chilling omen; Carver takes care of a dog after its owner is injured on a call.”
In a Chicago Fire Reddit discussion, a fan wondered, “Did I miss something? Where are Hermann and Engine 51 in the last episodes?”
Another fan noted that Eigenberg had been injured. “Rumor has it Herrmann is dealing with a leg/ankle/knee issue in real life. Maybe he is benched for a bit,” they explained. A second person confirmed the actor “has been out due to a leg injury/surgery.”
Other fans thought the character’s absence could have been addressed better. “The way they should handle it is that Herrmann had a classic rant at the wrong person and got suspended for the amount of time it takes the actor to recover,” one person explained.
Another agreed, noting, “Or have him out on business / reassigned to a desk / equipment / injury. It’s so weird to just have him not there with no mention.”
The first person responded, “That could work… he was injured on an off-screen call and now has to ride a desk at the house. There might be other factors involved, but who knows why they choose to write it that way. I personally don’t like the lack of attention to detail the writers have, but that’s me.”
Others provided more details about the timeline of the actor’s injury. “David Eigenberg was rumored to be injured at the time of filming for 13:6 (Season 13, Episode 6) and 13:7,” one person commented. Another added, 13:5 Herrmann says he can’t stand up because he hurt himself off shift, sits in a chair the whole episode. 13:6 Herrmann isn’t there, 13:7 Herrmann isn’t there. The belief is David Eigenberg had a knee/leg injury at the time these episodes were filmed. So he made it through Episode 5 and then rested for 6 and 7. He’s back next week in the fall finale.”
When Cruz and Herrmann were both absent in the sixth episode, it was rumored that perhaps budget cuts were to blame. One Redditor explained, “A lot of network shows are dealing with tighter budgets — one of the reasons on a show with larger casts you may not see all characters per episode like we did back in the day.”
In an interview with CinemaBlend, published on November 14, Eigenberg confirmed his injury. “We’re shooting Episode 11, I believe. I was out for a couple [episodes]. I snapped my Achilles tendon, so I got knocked out for a bit. It’s been been a weird year,” he explained.
