It appeared "The Fosters" would kill off the young character Jesus when Jake T. Austin chose to exit the series after two seasons and the show ended with a devastating car crash last season.
Instead, the adopted son of Stef and Lena Foster survived the accident along with his sister Marianna and their birth mother Anna in Monday's season three premiere, which jumped ahead three weeks.
The ABC Family series explained the absence of Jesus by sending him to a preparatory school that recruited him to join its wrestling team at the end of season two.
Despite Austin leaving, "The Fosters" have decided to recast the character and have the new actor appear later this season, according to TV Guide.
"The announcement [about who it is] will be forthcoming, but right now [Jesus] is at boarding school wrestling to his heart's content and we'll be checking in with him," executive producer Peter Paige told TV Guide. "It'll be a little while [before we see him]."
A phone conversation between Callie (Maia Mitchell) and Jesus (who was not shown) hinted at the character possible return in person. The troubled teenager asked Jesus to attend her adoption ceremony in a few weeks.
Austin announced his exit via Twitter in March shortly after the winter finale.
"I'm honored to have been a part of such a groundbreaking series, but I personally want to let you know that my time on the show has come to an end. Thank you for letting me be a part of your family, it's been a pleasure," he wrote.
"The Fosters" airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC Family.
