Did Tracker fans just get thrown a red herring? The biggest topic in season 2 of the show has been Bobby’s absence from six episodes, and some fans were hopeful about his return after a clip of him was shown in the midseason trailer. But after doing some digging, Bobby’s suspected return to the show may not be so cut and dry after all.

Breaking Down the ‘Tracker’ Midseason Trailer Clip Theory

Several outlets reported that while Bobby has been missing from multiple episodes of season 2, he was seen in the February midseason trailer in a new brief clip, hinting at his future return. Multiple outlets reported that the clip has not yet been aired in an episode of Tracker. While it was true that he was seen in a clip in the midseason trailer, we do not think the clip is new to Tracker fans. The clip in question in the midseason trailer at the 32-second mark featured Bobby wearing a green and yellow camouflage shirt and a red beanie. “Woah,” Bobby said in the clip in the trailer. There was a box of red sneakers sitting in front of him on his desk – making the wheels turn in our heads. We think we may have already seen this exact clip in a season 2 episode before.

Fans might remember a scene from season 2, episode 4, of Tracker titled “Noble Rot” where Colter Shaw and Reenie Greene were itching to solve the mystery of a tech CEO who disappeared from a Napa vineyard. Colter called Bobby, interrupting him as he took that same pair of red sneakers out of the box. In the episode, Bobby was wearing the same outfit as the one he was wearing in the midseason trailer clip, down to the yellow and green camouflage shirt, red hat and the box of red shoes in front of him.

During season 2, episode 4, when we first saw Bobby wearing that exact outfit, he told Colter that he had “the worst timing” and that he was “just unboxing” the sneakers.

“Do you need more time or can we get to work?” Colter asked Bobby during the episode, to which he responded, “No, you already ruined the moment.”

Bobby then took a look at the information on his computer about the winery that Colter sent him. Bobby said that it was “posh as hell” and Reenie said that Colter was “loving every minute of it.”

Colter told Bobby that the head of security said there was nothing about the victim’s disappearance on the cameras, but he would not let Colter and Reenie look at the footage. Bobby understood that Colter wanted him to “facilitate” being able to see the footage. “Woah,” Bobby said during the episode when he realized that the only way to see the footage was to go directly to the mainframe. He then sent Colter and Reenie the location of the mainframe.

“Not for nothing, but there’s going to be a lot of eyes. Luckily for me, that is a you problem,” Bobby said while picking up one of the shoes from the box as the scene in season 2, episode 4, ended.

Will Bobby Ever Return to ‘Tracker’?

Our questions surrounding the clip in the midseason trailer do not mean that Bobby won’t be coming back to the show at all. It’s merely saying we think the clip of him featured in the midseason trailer isn’t from an upcoming season 2 episode, but rather a past episode. It is unlikely that Bobby would wear the same outfit with the same box of shoes next to him and have the same dialogue in an episode of the show that has not yet aired.

Why Randy Has Stepped in for Bobby on ‘Tracker’

In season 2, episode 10, Bobby’s cousin Randy filled in for him as he told Colter that Bobby was dealing with some family issues. In season 2, episode 15, a discussion between Randy and Colter revealed that Bobby had to attend his friend’s funeral. Colter said that he tried texting Bobby but he didn’t respond. He recognized that Bobby needed to take some time to deal with what was going on.

“He will get back to it — and if he doesn’t then I will make sure he does,” Randy said. “No way out but through.”

In a trailer for upcoming season 2, episode 16, Randy is once again seen helping Colter out on a snowy mission on a mountain. Randy referred to the area as the “deadzone wilderness.”

It is still unclear when and if Bobby will be returning to the show, as actor Eric Graise has not spoken out about his character’s absence in the second half of season 2. Still, we’re crossing our fingers that he will eventually be back to his desk soon.