Photo credit: CBS.

CBS’s Tracker returns for its third season with the premiere episode titled “The Process,” airing on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET/PT. The premiere marks the return of Days of our Lives alum Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw.

Return to Tracker

The episode follows Colter Shaw as he grapples with the shocking truth surrounding his father’s death. He joins forces with his estranged brother, Russell Shaw, to help track down the missing wife and daughter of one of Reenie Greene’s clients. Their reunion finds them mixed up in a chain of events involving a sinister underground operation known as “The Process.”

Ackles previously portrayed Russell Shaw in Season 1, Episode 12 “Off the Books” and Season 2, Episodes 2 “Ontological Shock”, 3 “Bloodlines”, and 4 “Noble Rot”. While it has yet to be confirmed how many episodes Ackles will appear in during Season 3, his return in the premiere episode suggests a significant role in the unfolding storyline.

In addition to the return of Ackles, Season 3 sees the departure of series regulars Eric Graise (Bobby Exley), and Abby McEnany (Velma Bruin), who left after season two. Robin Weigert (Teddi Bruin), only appeared on the first season. These changes in the cast are expected to bring new dynamics to the series as Colter and his team continue their work.

The third season of Tracker continues to follow Colter Shaw, portrayed by The Young and the Restless alum Justin Hartley, a survivalist who travels the country assisting law enforcement and private citizens in locating missing persons and solving crimes. The series is based on Jeffery Deaver’s 2019 novel The Never Game and airs on CBS.

Ackles recounted to TV Insider, “I’m playing the older brother of somebody that I know very well, and I get along with very well. I mean, Justin and I have known each other for over 20 years, and we’ve been buds, and we’ve never gotten to work together. So it was really fun for us to get on set. But it was also very easy because it’s just hanging out with your buddy, and we get to have fun and we get to mix it up.” Jensen is fresh off the success of his new show, Countdown, which is on Amazon Prime.

Soap Ties

Both Ackles and Hartley have extensive backgrounds in soap operas. Ackles began his acting career in 1997 on the NBC daytime soap opera DOOL, where he portrayed Eric Brady until 2000. His performance earned him a Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Male Newcomer and multiple Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series.

Hartley, on the other hand, is known for his role as Fox Crane on the NBC daytime soap opera Passions from 2002 to 2006. He later portrayed Adam Newman on Y&R, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for his performance.

Fans can watch the Season 3 premiere of Tracker on CBS or stream previous episodes on Paramount+. Are you excited to see Ackles return?