Midway into The Conners season 5, DJ's existence is finally acknowledged, but not his odd absence, suggesting a heartbreaking family conflict within the clan. Following the unexpected cancelation of the Roseanne revival, ABC's sequel spin-off has impressively done a great job reinventing itself while also maintaining its massive audience. While the tragedy of losing the Conners' matriarch, Roseanne, has somehow brought the clan closer together, DJ's absence in The Conners season 5 hints that a falling out between him and his relatives has transpired behind the scenes.

https://screenrant.com/conners-season-5-dj-absence-family-conflict-tease/