Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton played in the team’s 10-7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders days before undergoing surgery to remove an early-stage testicular tumor. The 31-year-old logged nine tackles at Mile High Stadium the day prior to the operation, which took place last Friday.
Singleton says his health concerns began more than two weeks earlier, when a drug test detected elevated levels of the hormone hCG. A follow-up visit with a urologist and an ultrasound last week confirmed the diagnosis. He is currently recovering from surgery and expects to be back on the field in the coming weeks while awaiting additional test results, adding that medical staff have given him a strong prognosis.
Singleton acknowledged he struggled with whether to make the diagnosis public but decided to share it if it might encourage others to pay attention to their bodies. He urged people to pursue early detection and regular screenings, noting that catching problems early can save lives and spare loved ones unnecessary grief.