Jensen Ackles' Official Tracker Comeback Sets Up Russell's Death

Published May 12, 2026, 8:07 AM EDT

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Since the matter isn't linked to Colter's job as a tracker-for-hire, the final two episodes of Tracker season 3 are bringing back Ackles as his older brother, Russell. This will mark the character's first multi-episode involvement in the show, only appearing in one outing in its first two seasons. Balancing its storytelling, Tracker season 3, episodes 21, "Chrono Stasis," and episode 22, "The Best Ones," will also involve weekly cases, but the core focus is on its overarching narrative that could end with another tragedy.

Russell Is Fatally Wounded In Tracker Season 3 Finale

As with his previous appearances, Russell will assist his brother in his weekly case while also trying to peel away the layers of their father's death in his upcoming appearance. In the Tracker season 3 finale, the pair will "search for a victim of a nefarious research project," It's safe to say that the project mentioned is at least tied to what Ashton was working on before his death. More interestingly, however, CBS has released new images for "The Best Ones" and it includes Russell nursing a gnarly injury.

Procedurals tend to keep its main cast intact for a long period of time. Admittedly, Ackles isn't a regular in the project, so usually, killng off someone like him in a show like Tracker is easier than getting rid of a core character. That said, Hartley's show has a different set-up, in a way that Colter is really the only one who's dealing with dangerous situations on the ground week after week. Beyond that, Tracker has also revamped its cast multiple times in its short run.

Will CBS Actually Kill Jensen Ackles' Tracker Character?

Ackles remains ever-popular even years after his stint in Supernatural. Between that and his chemistry with Hartley in Tracker, it's difficult to imagine CBS killing off Russell, especially since he is best positioned for a starring role for a potential expansion series. Every single time the older Shaw brother drops by, there's an immediate increase in interest in the procedural. That said, the past couple of network TV cycles have been leaning hard on unexpected and bold deaths.

NCIS season 23 killed off Director Leon Vance after nearly 20 years, while ABC's High Potential season 2 and Will Trent season 4 wrote out vital characters, such as Nick Wagner and Amanda Wagner. Previously, Fire Country season 3 saw the death of Vince Leone, while 9-1-1 sent off Bobby Nash. Tracker is at a point of its run where a natural shake-up tends to happen, so it's still best to be cautiously optimistic about the chances of Russell surviving the ordeal.

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