“The Walking Dead” is still an unquestionable ratings monster for AMC, but recent dips in viewership have certainly suggested that fatigue has set in for large numbers of former viewers. Now in its ninth season, the series is struggling to remain as fresh and as interesting as it once was, and it’s about to suffer the biggest blow to date.

Collider reports today that star Andrew “Rick Grimes” Lincoln, who has been with “The Walking Dead” since the beginning, will be leaving the show *during* Season 9.

The site also notes, “We do know that fans can only expect to see Lincoln in half-a-dozen episodes of the upcoming season.”

They also add, “To fill the void in the show’s leading man status, we’re also hearing that AMC has offered substantial compensation to long-running series star Norman Reedus to not only stay on board, but to take over the show’s leading role.”

More on this developing story as we learn it.