Andrew Lincoln has already confirmed he’s leaving the show, so Rick’s current dire situation might actually be his end

(Spoilers ahead for the Oct. 28 episode of “The Walking Dead” on AMC)

So we know that, by some unknown means, that Andrew Lincoln is quitting “The Walking Dead” during this half-season, and thus taking his character Rick Grimes with him. Presumably this means Rick will die, though there’s always the chance that he’ll simply walk out like Morgan (Lenny James) did last year, but he’ll go someplace out of view instead of onto “Fear the Walking Dead.”

But it’s more likely that he’s going to die, because characters very rarely just leave on this show. So, assuming that Rick is going to die, we may have just seen the beginning of the end for him.

Also Read: 'The Walking Dead': Norman Reedus on Why Daryl and Maggie Turned Away in Episode 3's Final Scene

This week’s episode ended on a big cliffhanger for Rick. After he and Daryl (Norman Reedus) managed to get out of the big pit they accidentally rolled into, Rick declared that he was going to stick around and try to lead the incoming herd of zombies away from any of the nearby settlements.

But this plan did not go super well, as Rick and his horse were soon surrounded, and his horse bucked him onto a concrete slab that, unfortunately, had some rebar sticking out of it. And one bit of rebar went right through Rick’s side. So he’s lying there on this slab, rebar in his guts, zombies coming at him from all sides. Looks pretty dire!

It’s not terribly likely, of course, that Rick is gonna die right there on that slab at the beginning of next week’s episode. This week we did get a hint that help was nearby just before things went south, as Maggie (Lauren Cohan) rode up and saw several zombies that Rick and Daryl had killed not long before. So Maggie is in the area when Rick goes down, and it seems like there’s a good chance she’ll help get him out of this specific predicament.

Also Read: 'Walking Dead': Breaking Down Everything We Just Learned About Jadis and the Helicopter

But the issue for Rick in this moment is not just about whether he’s gonna get eaten by zombies. The rebar in his flank will be a big problem even if he does manage to get away. Considering the way Carl got basically a whole episode to say goodbye to everybody last season, it seems likely they’ll do something similar for the character who has been at the center of “The Walking Dead” since the series premiere way back when.

So if we had to guess, we’d say that Rick will manage to get off that slab, but then will die from his injuries later. But we’ll have to keep watching to find out!

'The Walking Dead': The Most Shocking and Disturbing Deaths So Far "The Walking Dead" has never been shy about gore and death, but some characters' demises hit harder than others. Now that the final season is upon us, let's take a look back at the carnage from past seasons. Andrea's sister Amy (Emma Bell) was the first sympathetic named character to go, when a random walker bit her at camp. AMC The death of Jim (Andrew Rothenberg) in Season 1 showed the characters how to treat a bitten person for the first time. AMC Sophia (Madison Lintz) was beloved by all, but Rick did not hesitate when it came time to pull the trigger when she became a walker.   AMC Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) was the moral compass of the group, so it was upsetting on several levels when a zombie ripped his guts out.   AMC Shane (Jon Bernthal) was ready to kill Rick over his love triangle with Lori, but Rick acted first.   AMC T-Dog (IronE Singleton) gave his life to save Carol from walkers when the group tried to take the prison.   AMC Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) died during childbirth, prompting Carl to shoot her in the head to prevent her reanimation. AMC Daryl's brother Merle (Michael Rooker) finally tried to be a good man by defying the Governor -- and it got him a bullet in the heart from the Governor himself and a new life as a zombie. AMC Andrea (Laurie Holden) failed to see The Governor for what he was -- a bad guy -- and paid the ultimate price. AMC Hershel (Scott Wilson) wanted peace, but The Governor took his head to prove a point to Rick. AMC Tyreese (Chad Coleman) let his guard down for a just a moment, but long enough to get bitten by a walker.   AMC Lizzie (Brighton Sharbino) killed her sister Mika (Kyla Kenedy) before Carol shot Lizzie in the back of the head. AMC Beth (Emily Kinney) finally had enough of Dawn, the tyrannical overlord of Grady Memorial Hospital, stabbing her with a pair of scissors as a parting gift. But Dawn immediately shot Beth in the head -- prompting Daryl to in turn shoot Dawn. AMC Noah (Tyler James Williams) endured one of the most gruesome deaths in "Walking Dead" history thanks to Nicholas. AMC Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge), Ron (Austin Abrams) and Sam (Major Dodson) all died within seconds of each other. Sam got eaten when the horde invaded Alexandria. Jessie died as she tried to save him. Ron then attempted to kill Rick, but got stabbed by Michonne and was subsequently eaten.  AMC Abraham (Michael Cuditz) was the one we had to wait six months to see murdered by Negan. He, of course, got his head beaten in with Negan's barbwire-wrapped baseball bat, Lucille. AMC But Abraham wasn't Negan's only victim that night. After Daryl punched Negan, Negan decided he had to make another example out of someone in the group -- and he chose Glenn.  AMC Spencer (Austin Nichols) thought he could use Negan to kill Rick in order to assume control of Alexandria. But Negan had other plans, gutting Spencer in full view of everyone in the community. Gene Page/AMC Olivia (Ann Mahoney) suffered plenty of indignities at Negan's hands, and he eventually repaid her by having her shot. AMC Ole Dr. Carson (Tim Parati) made a critical error by saying mean things about Sherry to Dwight over and over again. So Dwight framed the good doctor for helping Daryl escape from the Saviors -- and Negan threw him into the furnace for it. AMC When King Ezekiel's crew was short one cantaloupe in its tribute for Negan's Saviors, Benjamin was shot in the leg as punishment. Unfortunately, the shot hit an artery, and young Ben bled out. AMC It turned out that Richard had tossed one of the cantaloupes because he wanted to start a war between the Kingdom and Saviors -- and he thought they would kill him for being short. They shot Ben instead, but Morgan strangled Richard the next day after Richard confessed. AMC Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) used Eugene's suicide pills to kill herself while she was theatrically locked in a casket because of some ridiculous thing Negan was doing. When Negan opened the casket she popped out as a walker and saved Rick and the residents of Alexandria in a clutch moment. AMC Morales (Juan Gabriel Pareja) returned in Season 8 after having been gone since Season 1, but that return was short-lived. Now a member of the Saviors, Morales was around again for about 10 minutes before Daryl shot him. AMC Eric (Jordan Woods-Robinson) got shot during the Alexandrians' battle against the Saviors, and then bled out and turned into a walker after a tearful goodbye scene with his boyfriend Aaron (Ross Marquand). AMC Shiva the tiger bit the dust while saving Ezekiel, Carol and Jerry from a bunch of walkers in Season 8. There were just too many and they swarmed and ate her. AMC Carl (Chandler Riggs) died in the Season 8 mid-season premiere after suffering a zombie bite in the first half of the season.  AMC Gregory (Xander Berkeley) got his long-overdue death when he was executed by hanging for trying to murder Maggie in the Season 9 premiere. AMC Jesus (Tom Payne) was killed when he tried to decapitate a zombie only to discover that zombie was actually a living man disguised as one -- this was Alexandria and Hilltop's first real contact with the Whisperers. AMC Near the end of Season 9, the Whisperers made a big statement by killing 10 named characters at once and putting all their heads on spikes. The most notable among those killed were Tara (Alanna Masterson), Enid (Katelyn Nacon), Henry (Matt Lintz) and Tammy Rose (Brett Butler). Siddiq (Avi Nash) was killed in Alexandria by Dante, who it turned out was a Whisperer infiltrator, because he discovered that Dante had poisoned the town's water supply. Earl Sutton (John Finn) was killed during the battle with the Whisperers at Hilltop when he was bitten by one of their zombie horde. Over the course of this conflict, the Whisperers got his wife Tammy Rose and his son Kenneth as well. Previous Slide Next Slide 1 of 33 As the final season kicks off, we look back at some of the emotional devastation this show has wreaked over the past decade "The Walking Dead" has never been shy about gore and death, but some characters' demises hit harder than others. Now that the final season is upon us, let's take a look back at the carnage from past seasons. View In Gallery

"The Walking Dead" has never been shy about gore and death, but some characters' demises hit harder than others. Now that the final season is upon us, let's take a look back at the carnage from past seasons.

Andrea's sister Amy (Emma Bell) was the first sympathetic named character to go, when a random walker bit her at camp.

The death of Jim (Andrew Rothenberg) in Season 1 showed the characters how to treat a bitten person for the first time.

Sophia (Madison Lintz) was beloved by all, but Rick did not hesitate when it came time to pull the trigger when she became a walker.

Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn) was the moral compass of the group, so it was upsetting on several levels when a zombie ripped his guts out.

Shane (Jon Bernthal) was ready to kill Rick over his love triangle with Lori, but Rick acted first.

T-Dog (IronE Singleton) gave his life to save Carol from walkers when the group tried to take the prison.

Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) died during childbirth, prompting Carl to shoot her in the head to prevent her reanimation.

Daryl's brother Merle (Michael Rooker) finally tried to be a good man by defying the Governor -- and it got him a bullet in the heart from the Governor himself and a new life as a zombie.

Andrea (Laurie Holden) failed to see The Governor for what he was -- a bad guy -- and paid the ultimate price.

Hershel (Scott Wilson) wanted peace, but The Governor took his head to prove a point to Rick.

Tyreese (Chad Coleman) let his guard down for a just a moment, but long enough to get bitten by a walker.

Lizzie (Brighton Sharbino) killed her sister Mika (Kyla Kenedy) before Carol shot Lizzie in the back of the head.

Beth (Emily Kinney) finally had enough of Dawn, the tyrannical overlord of Grady Memorial Hospital, stabbing her with a pair of scissors as a parting gift. But Dawn immediately shot Beth in the head -- prompting Daryl to in turn shoot Dawn.

Noah (Tyler James Williams) endured one of the most gruesome deaths in "Walking Dead" history thanks to Nicholas.

Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge), Ron (Austin Abrams) and Sam (Major Dodson) all died within seconds of each other. Sam got eaten when the horde invaded Alexandria. Jessie died as she tried to save him. Ron then attempted to kill Rick, but got stabbed by Michonne and was subsequently eaten. 

Abraham (Michael Cuditz) was the one we had to wait six months to see murdered by Negan. He, of course, got his head beaten in with Negan's barbwire-wrapped baseball bat, Lucille.

But Abraham wasn't Negan's only victim that night. After Daryl punched Negan, Negan decided he had to make another example out of someone in the group -- and he chose Glenn. 

Spencer (Austin Nichols) thought he could use Negan to kill Rick in order to assume control of Alexandria. But Negan had other plans, gutting Spencer in full view of everyone in the community.

Olivia (Ann Mahoney) suffered plenty of indignities at Negan's hands, and he eventually repaid her by having her shot.

Ole Dr. Carson (Tim Parati) made a critical error by saying mean things about Sherry to Dwight over and over again. So Dwight framed the good doctor for helping Daryl escape from the Saviors -- and Negan threw him into the furnace for it.

When King Ezekiel's crew was short one cantaloupe in its tribute for Negan's Saviors, Benjamin was shot in the leg as punishment. Unfortunately, the shot hit an artery, and young Ben bled out.

It turned out that Richard had tossed one of the cantaloupes because he wanted to start a war between the Kingdom and Saviors -- and he thought they would kill him for being short. They shot Ben instead, but Morgan strangled Richard the next day after Richard confessed.

Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) used Eugene's suicide pills to kill herself while she was theatrically locked in a casket because of some ridiculous thing Negan was doing. When Negan opened the casket she popped out as a walker and saved Rick and the residents of Alexandria in a clutch moment.

Morales (Juan Gabriel Pareja) returned in Season 8 after having been gone since Season 1, but that return was short-lived. Now a member of the Saviors, Morales was around again for about 10 minutes before Daryl shot him.

Eric (Jordan Woods-Robinson) got shot during the Alexandrians' battle against the Saviors, and then bled out and turned into a walker after a tearful goodbye scene with his boyfriend Aaron (Ross Marquand).

Shiva the tiger bit the dust while saving Ezekiel, Carol and Jerry from a bunch of walkers in Season 8. There were just too many and they swarmed and ate her.

Carl (Chandler Riggs) died in the Season 8 mid-season premiere after suffering a zombie bite in the first half of the season. 

Gregory (Xander Berkeley) got his long-overdue death when he was executed by hanging for trying to murder Maggie in the Season 9 premiere.

Jesus (Tom Payne) was killed when he tried to decapitate a zombie only to discover that zombie was actually a living man disguised as one -- this was Alexandria and Hilltop's first real contact with the Whisperers.

Near the end of Season 9, the Whisperers made a big statement by killing 10 named characters at once and putting all their heads on spikes. The most notable among those killed were Tara (Alanna Masterson), Enid (Katelyn Nacon), Henry (Matt Lintz) and Tammy Rose (Brett Butler).

Siddiq (Avi Nash) was killed in Alexandria by Dante, who it turned out was a Whisperer infiltrator, because he discovered that Dante had poisoned the town's water supply.

Earl Sutton (John Finn) was killed during the battle with the Whisperers at Hilltop when he was bitten by one of their zombie horde. Over the course of this conflict, the Whisperers got his wife Tammy Rose and his son Kenneth as well.

As the final season kicks off, we look back at some of the emotional devastation this show has wreaked over the past decade

"The Walking Dead" has never been shy about gore and death, but some characters' demises hit harder than others. Now that the final season is upon us, let's take a look back at the carnage from past seasons.

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