Broncos’ Linebacker Alex Singleton’s Cancer Journey

Alex Singleton, 31, is a Canadian-American professional football linebacker for the Denver Broncos in the US National Football League (NFL). In November 2025, the Broncos released a statement announcing that Singleton had undergone surgery for testicular cancer on November 7, after being diagnosed earlier that month.

Testicular cancer is usually treatable when detected early, but it remains one of the most common cancers affecting men aged 15 to 35.

Singleton’s cancer was diagnosed after a random drug test by the NFL. He received a letter flagging abnormal test results on October 29. The test results revealed that he had higher-than-normal levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

The hormone hCG is a prohibited substance in male athletes under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, and can be misused to stimulate testosterone production. When an athlete is flagged for high levels of hCG, there are usually two possible reasons – doping, or cancer.

After his test results, Singleton underwent further testing and evaluation, and it was found that he had testicular cancer. He was set to go for an orchiectomy to remove one of his testicles by early November.

According to the linebacker, "My biggest fear was getting this game taken away from me, not on my own terms."

Tests completed after Singleton’s surgery indicated that it was a success, and he was given the all-clear to resume his career. In most cases, it’s usually recommended to avoid heavy lifting or intense exercise for about six weeks after testicle removal.

Fortunately, Singleton made a swift recovery, and returned to the field in end November, just 23 days after his operation. He missed only a single game before his return.

In a game before his cancer announcement, Singleton held up a single finger as a gesture to celebrate a move, and grabbed his crotch as well. Most players hold up two fingers, and a single finger was intended as a nod to the surgery Singleton needed to remove one of his testicles.

Fans caught on to the gesture quickly, with debates about whether the linebacker would get fined for a potentially offensive or taunting gesture. However, Singleton shared on a podcast with DNVR Sports that the NFL will not issue a fine for the “one-ball” gesture.

After review by the Broncos PR staff and the NFL office, it was clarified that the gesture was meant to bring awareness to testicular cancer, with no intent to mock or taunt.

Currently, Singleton encourages more players to join in, as long as they remain aware of the intent behind the gesture.