The Walking Dead Showrunner Gives Definitive Answer About Rick's Cut Hand

In response to one of the most persistent inquiries ever on the series, The Walking Dead's Scott Gimple has given an update on the state of Rick Grimes's hand.

In the most recent episode, titled "Thank You," the series star was cut by a blade that had walker blood on it. This led many fans to wonder whether Rick could become infected and many more -- ourselves included -- to speculate that perhaps he might finally lose his hand (as he did in the comics).

That, along with the apparent death of another major character, has hounded producers and actors in all of their interviews this week, so showrunner Scott Gimple finally gave in and threw TVLine a bone on the Rick mystery -- arguably the less signfiicant of the two, since nobody really believed that he would die as a result of any potential infection.

"It's entirely possible, but we haven't really gotten into it on the show," said Gimple of the possibility that walker blood in an open wound could prove fatal. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say something definitive: Rick is OK regarding that cut. His hand will survive. There will be a bandage. There will be some ointment involved. But he's going to walk away from it."

That seems pretty comprehensive, and lacking any of the clever language producers often use to cover half-truths and extend the life of mysteries -- like his comments that we would see "Glenn or some part of him" or that there were no sparks between Eugene and Denise "and you will see why."

Too bad for Andrew Lincoln, of course, who has been lobbying for his character to lose his hand for a while now...!

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.