Broncos LB Alex Singleton reveals he had surgery for testicular cancer, reports 'great prognosis'

DENVER — Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton underwent surgery for testicular cancer a day after the team's Thursday night win over the Las Vegas Raiders, he revealed Monday on social media.

The seven-year NFL veteran in his fourth season with the Broncos said his team believed he had caught the cancer early and that he had a "great prognosis" following surgery. The Broncos said Singleton's surgery was successful and that he could be back on the field in the coming weeks.

Singleton said a random drug test administered by the league a couple of weeks earlier had uncovered elevated levels of the hormone hCG, a sign of some cancers.

A visit with doctors determined he had a cancerous tumor, which he had surgically removed Friday.

In an X post on Monday, Singleton stated that he had shared the news with his teammates, saying he “stood before our team as a lucky man.”

He said he was thankful that the cancer was caught early, but he is awaiting additional test results.

He said he struggled with sharing the news publicly, but said if his diagnosis helps others, then it was worth it.

“I wrestled with sharing such personal information publicly. But the fact is, if it helps one person decide to pay closer attention to their body, then it is well worth it. Early detection and regular screenings save lives and can save loved ones from a lot of grief. Heck, I have a wife, Sam, and daughter, Tallyn, along with an amazing family back in California,” Singleton wrote in the X post.

Singleton has been a fixture on a Broncos defense that ranks in the top 3 in the NFL in both yardage and points this season, playing more than 99% of the team's defensive snaps (660). His 89 total tackles rank 5th in the league after Week 10.

He was also the Broncos' 2024 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which is given annually to a player who makes strong contributions on and off the field.

“Our No. 1 priority is Alex's health and well-being, and we are grateful it appears the cancer was caught early. Alex and his family have our unwavering support as we look forward to welcoming him back on the field soon,” the Broncos said in a statement.

Dr. Nicholas Cost, a urologic oncologist with UCHealth, praised Singleton for his willingness to share his story and encourage other men to talk with their doctor.

"Testicular cancer is a relatively a rare type of cancer, but when it does happen, it happens in this age group," he said. "So between the ages of 13 and 39, testicular cancer is the most common solid tumor that we see in men."

Dr. Cost said he doesn't recommend men get tested for the hormone flagged by Singleton's drug test because it is not a reliable way to test specifically for testicular cancer. He says self-exams and conversations with a doctor are critical for men.

"Anybody that's gone through pubertym up through the age of probably 50 or so, should be doing self exams once a month of their testicles, and if they feel something out of the ordinary, to let their primary care doctor know," he explained. "And even maybe more valuable, is at your next primary care visit, to go over what a normal exam feels like."

Dr. Cost says depending on the surgery and if follow-up scans are encouraging, Singleton should be able to return to play this season. But he says the mental turnaround after a traumatic diagnosis can take even longer than the physical recovery.

"I think it takes guys quite a while, six months to a year at least, to kind of come to terms with what's happened," said Cost. "People that have this, they can still go on to have extremely normal life, to have kids, but you know that's all predicated on you coming and getting care."