ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — In an emotional group assembly Monday morning, Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton instructed his teammates and coaches that he had surgical procedure Friday to take away a cancerous tumor faraway from one his testicles, one thing solely his household and some of his closest associates and group officers knew.
“Most cancers is a scary phrase, nonetheless is, nonetheless freaks me out simply saying it,” Singleton mentioned Monday on a name with native reporters.
He had earlier introduced the information in an announcement posted to social media.
I shared this information with our group this morning.
I am grateful for everybody’s assist and might’t wait to get again on the sphere quickly!
Go Broncos! pic.twitter.com/6qge5tPirn
— Alex Singleton (@alexsingleton49) November 10, 2025
Singleton, 31, mentioned a league-mandated random drug check on the Wednesday earlier than the Broncos’ Nov. 2 recreation in opposition to the Houston Texans revealed he had elevated ranges of the hormone hcG in his system.
Singleton mentioned “understanding I wasn’t taking hcG” he made an appointment with a urologist and underwent a number of assessments, together with CT and ultrasound scans, and acquired discover final Monday a tumor on his testicle was cancerous. Surgical procedure was then scheduled for Friday.
However Singleton mentioned he instructed his docs he needed to play in Thursday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders. Singleton added that only some of his teammates and Broncos officers and coaches knew of his prognosis and impending surgical procedure because the group went by way of its preparations final week.
He made 9 tackles within the Broncos’ 10-7 victory.
A smiling Singleton fortunately answered questions within the locker room Thursday night time after the Broncos had improved to 8-2 with the win and gave no indication he would have surgical procedure the following day. Singleton had performed over three quarters of a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers final season with a torn ACL.
“A pair them knew earlier than surgical procedure, going into the week,” Singleton mentioned. “… They care a lot about my well being … it means lots.”
Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad mentioned, “[We’ll] be there for him, proceed the combat with him … I am simply glad everyone seems to be right here to assist him. Does not shock me [he played Thursday] … final competitor, final group participant. He will overcome it and we’re all going to be right here for him.”
Singleton mentioned Monday his full post-surgery schedule continues to be to be decided by his docs, however that he would initially be examined weekly to verify the hcG is out of his system and that he expects to listen to the complete pathology report on the tumor within the coming days. He added a CT scan he had earlier than the surgical procedure revealed the most cancers “had not unfold wherever else, which is clearly an awesome signal.”
The Broncos’ chief in tackles this season with 89, Singleton mentioned he’ll miss Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, however didn’t but know what number of, if any, extra video games he’ll miss. The Broncos have a bye week following the Chiefs recreation.
“I am not giving an actual timetable but, however I ought to get better fairly shortly from this surgical procedure and rise up and operating right here fairly quickly,” Singleton mentioned. “… I used to be capable of not have as invasive of surgical procedure … It feels good that optimistically, it is not going to be 4, 5, six weeks, fortunately.”
Singleton mentioned he spent the weekend along with his spouse Sam and 9-month outdated daughter — “loads of time sitting on the sofa … going by way of the feelings of the entire thing” — and because the participant who is usually seen sporting a “optimistic vibes solely” sweatshirt as he strikes by way of his days across the Broncos’ facility, he mentioned he is concentrating on a optimistic mindset.
Singleton added that, sooner or later, he can be a vocal advocate for folks to be screened for testicular most cancers and different medical check-ups.
“I need to be so forthcoming with you guys and form of the world about it, to know that speaking about it and being an advocate for the screenings is simply so vital,” Singleton mentioned. “… I’ll proceed to speak about it, sharing it … understanding there should not be an enormous stigma behind it, there’s nothing improper with it. I am studying extra day-after-day … [But] do not be afraid of the physician, I used to be for a very long time.”