Alex Singleton’s autumn turned serious and sobering in a hurry.
The Broncos inside linebacker and captain announced that he underwent surgery Friday after being diagnosed last week with testicular cancer.
“Thankfully, we believe the cancer was caught early with a great prognosis for me and my family,” he wrote on social media Monday. “While we are still awaiting some additional test results, I fully expect to return to the field in the coming weeks.”
Singleton said that he was selected for the NFL’s random drug testing program Wednesday going into Denver’s preparation for a road game at Houston and was notified that he had elevated levels of the hormone hcG.
“Without a doubt, I knew with how diligent I am with what goes into my body that this was not from anything external that I may have taken. After speaking with my agent and wife, we decided to book an appointment with a urologist.”
Singleton then visited Dr. Andrew Zilavy, who determined the 31-year-old linebacker had signs of a testicular tumor. A subsequent ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis a week ago.
“It’s been a whirlwind, I would say,” Singleton told reporters on a conference call Monday afternoon. “I don’t know if I’ve necessarily coped with everything that’s been going on.”
Singleton played in Denver’s Thursday night win over the Raiders. He, as usual, was on the field for all 60 defensive snaps and tied safety Talanoa Hufanga with a team-high nine tackles. The next day, he had surgery to remove the tumor.
“If the game wasn’t on Thursday, I think they would have wanted to do the surgery well earlier than Friday,” Singleton’s agent, Paul Sheehy, told The Post.
Singleton said “within minutes of getting a call from my agent,” the Broncos had arranged from him to get an ultrasound and other testing done.
“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,” Singleton wrote. “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. Not to mention, I’m part of a great organization here with my Broncos family.”
This story will be updated.
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