Seth loses his leg in a heroic but devastating moment during a shootout in season 7, episode 16 (“The Return”) of The Rookie.

What happened to Seth’s leg in The Rookie?

During a high‑risk call, Seth steps out from cover when he realizes John Nolan is about to be ambushed from behind. He warns Nolan and shoots the suspect, but in the chaos he’s hit in the leg by gunfire at close range.

The injury is so severe that, once he’s rushed to the hospital, doctors have to amputate his leg below the knee to save his life. Later, Nolan visits him in the hospital and confirms that while the amputation is real and life‑changing, Seth’s career isn’t necessarily over if he chooses to fight his way back with a prosthetic.

In‑universe meaning for the character

  • The injury happens because Seth puts himself in harm’s way to save Nolan, turning a character known for lying and bad choices into someone capable of genuine sacrifice.
  • It forces Seth to confront who he is without the ego and the lies, and the show frames the loss of his leg as both a consequence and a shot at redemption.

How fans are reacting

Forum and Reddit discussions point out that the medical timeline is pretty unrealistic: viewers note that someone with a fresh amputation would not normally be as awake and conversational as Seth is shown. Many fans, including at least one commenter with an amputation, say the show sped things up for drama and dialogue, even if that means sacrificing realism.

Mini “Quick Scoop” recap

  • Seth is shot in the leg during a shootout while saving Nolan.
  • The damage is catastrophic, and doctors amputate his leg below the knee.
  • The moment reframes him from problem rookie to flawed but potentially redeemable hero.
  • Viewers praise the emotional impact but debate how medically believable the scene is.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.