The following article contains major spoilers for NCIS Season 24, Episode 3, titled “Sleeping Dogs.”
Nick Torres just took a dark, unexpected step into his past—and the fallout could redefine his future at NCIS. In Season 24, Episode 3, actor Wilmer Valderrama delivers a powerhouse, emotionally vulnerable performance as ghosts from his undercover work 13 years ago come back to haunt him in “Sleeping Dogs.”
However, it is the episode’s dramatic final moments that have left viewers questioning what lies ahead for the veteran agent, as a guilt-driven decision threatens to derail all of the personal progress Torres has made over the years.
Ghosts from 2013 and a Dangerous Covert Legacy
The central mystery of “Sleeping Dogs” kicks off when someone begins using Torres’ former undercover alias, Dante Navarro, to carry out a brutal series of murders connected to a case from 2013. The investigation forces Torres to confront his former life and reunite with his old handler, Walt Keller (played by guest star Mike O’Malley of Snowpiercer).
Throughout the case, Keller acts as a rigid, “old-school” presence, repeatedly pushing the idea that Dante Navarro represents the “real” Torres. As the investigation unfolds, the squad discovers that the killer operating under the Navarro moniker is actually the daughter of a family Torres once vowed to protect. According to Keller, that family ultimately “slipped through the cracks,” leaving the traumatized daughter to take up the assassin mantle.
While Keller is eventually exposed as dirty and corrupt, he is cleared of being the actual murderer. Yet, his influence leaves a devastating mark on Torres, who is left crushed by guilt over failing the family years prior.
DiNozzo’s New Role and Lighthearted Subplots
Meanwhile, the episode continues to integrate Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo into the fabric of Season 24 following his promotion to Director of NCIS. In “Sleeping Dogs,” DiNozzo appears primarily in brief check-ins, concluding with a debriefing scene where he questions Torres about the case’s heavy emotional toll.
Alongside the dark case of the week, the episode weaves in a bit of humor involving Jimmy Palmer, who spends time trying to convince the team to help him celebrate more birthdays—a subplot that offers a momentary respite from Torres’ intense emotional journey.
Is Wilmer Valderrama Leaving NCIS?
The episode’s shocking conclusion arrives when a guilt-ridden Torres approaches Keller to inquire about an off-the-books assignment with the CIA.
This unexpected turn immediately sparks questions about whether Torres might be departing the agency or if Wilmer Valderrama could be preparing to exit the hit CBS drama. At present, there is no official indication that Valderrama is leaving NCIS. However, the cliffhanger opens up several distinct possibilities for where the writers might take the character next.
Viewers are left speculating whether this moment serves as the launching pad for a temporary, short-term arc—similar to recent storytelling maneuvers on FBI—or perhaps an in-universe setup to allow Valderrama a brief hiatus for a few episodes. Alternatively, it could signal a deeper internal crisis that Torres will have to fight his way out of in upcoming episodes.
Regardless of where this CIA proposition leads, Torres’ decision leaves his standing at NCIS on remarkably fragile ground as Season 24 moves forward.
