Former CSI star William Petersen has been courted to return to his role on the hit forensic drama, according to tabloid reports.

Petersen played forensics expert Gil Grissom before announcing his departure from the longrunning show last July. Oscar-nominated actor Laurence Fishburne subsequently landed a part on the show last year, but has met with a slip in the show’s once booming ratings.

A source tells The National Enquirer: “The bottom line is that CSI just hasn’t been the same without Grissom. He’s the show’s heart and soul. When Grissom left at the end of the ninth season… a lot of longtime viewers went with him.”

The insider adds, “There was a brief ratings bump when Laurence Fishburne joined the cast at the beginning of last season, but the numbers have gone downhill ever since.”