The end ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 21 featuring an explosion at Grey Sloan Memorial endangered plenty of characters, but one update may have just spoiled what happened to Link.Grey’s Anatomyseason 21’s endingwas full of twists as a consequence of Jenna Gatlin taking Amelia and Simone hostage in a bid to force them to operate on Dylan.

While the situation seemingly solved itself after Amelia and Lucas’s successful surgery on Dylan, with an important assist from Meredith, the chaos didn’t reach its peak until after Jenna was arrested and OR 2 was checked. Jenna inadvertently opening the valve filled the room with acetylene, which prompted the explosion, forcingGrey’s Anatomyseason 22to explore who was affected.

Chris Carmack as Link and Chandra Wilson as Bailey in Grey’s Anatomy season 21, episode 17

Chris Carmack Is Listed As Series Regular In Grey’s Anatomy Season 22

Link operating in OR 2 and being seen asking for a cautery inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s last moments heavily implied he would have been at the heart of the explosion, due to the instrument’s nature and his being in the OR filled with acetylene. This endangered Link incredibly, as it made him the most likely to be severely hurt.

However, the latest update aboutGrey’s Anatomyseason 22’s premiere date being moved up to October 9 from October 16 also revealed the series regulars for the upcoming season of the medical drama.Chris Carmack, who plays Atticus “Link” Lincoln, is listed as a series regular forGrey’s Anatomyseason 22(viaDeadline), making Link’s demise virtually impossible.

Grey’s Anatomy Poster

Grey’s Anatomyseason 21 ending with a shocking cliffhanger and several characters’ lives in danger made Link’s possible death feel like a real risk, especially considering the high number ofGrey’s Anatomymain characters killed off. However,killing Link at the end ofGrey’s Anatomyseason 21 would have been way crueler than any other death in the medical drama.

Link dying inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s finale would have been too dark.

Grey’s Anatomythreatened Link’s life in the episode immediately after the one when he married Jo. They went through so much as a couple, first being unable to tell one another what they felt throughout season 18, then almost losing the pregnancy in season 21’s midseason finale. Link dying inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s finale would have been too dark.

Grey’s Anatomy season 22 premieres on ABC at 10pm ET on Thursday, July 08, 2025.

Making Jo a widow days after her and Link’s wedding would have been excessively bleak, especially after everythingGrey’s Anatomyput Jo through. There have been plenty of instances of characters dying suddenly, but their story had been told. Being killed inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21’s ending wouldn’t have given Link and Jo’s story that choice, making it highly unlikely.