Denver Broncos star Alex Singleton has revealed he is recovering from an operation after being diagnosed with testicular cancer last week.
The 31-year-old, who has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, told his teammates the news on Monday morning and is set to miss gametime while recovering.
In a bombshell statement posted on social media, Singleton revealed: ‘Thankfully, we believe the cancer was caught early with a great prognosis for me and my family.
‘While we are still awaiting some additional test results, I fully expect to return to the field in the coming weeks.’
Singleton has played in all 10 Broncos games this season, last appearing on Thursday night in a win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
In his statement, the linebacker revealed that he found out the news last Monday, before playing on as planned on Thursday and undergoing surgery on Friday.
He first received news that something was awry after a random drugs test by the NFL, being notified later that he had elevated levels of the hormone hcG in his system.
He then booked an appointment with a urologist, revealing: ‘I visited Dr Andrew Zilavy who determined that, in fact, I had signs of a testicular tumor.
‘I immediately contacted the Broncos, and they put me in contact with Dr Geoff Ledgerwood, who was able to conduct an ultrasound immediately to confirm the diagnosis.
‘And then Friday, after playing in the Raiders game the previous night, I underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tumor and begin the road to a full recovery.’
He went on to explain that he ‘wrestled with sharing such personal information publicly’, but was keen to push others to ‘pay closer attention to their body’ in case of any similar issues.
Singleton is currently enjoying the best season of his career, with the Broncos 8-2 and a serious contender to win the Super Bowl.
He paid tribute to his wife Sam in his statement, noting she ‘was with me every step of the way’ and that ‘she is truly the strongest person I know.’
