Sports

Denver Broncos linebacker and tackling savant Alex Singleton has long set a positive example for young football players in Southern California.

He holds annual free camps and clinics at his alma mater, Thousand Oaks High. He partners with the Special Olympics to raise awareness and support for his sister and others with disabilities. He brought the Thousand Oaks High team coached by his good friend Evan Yabu to SoFi Stadium to watch the Broncos play the Chargers.

And when Yabu became coach at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High two years ago, he became a familiar face there as well.

But nothing he's done can rival the message he posted Monday on social media revealing his testicular cancer diagnosis, subsequent surgery and hopeful quick recovery.

"I wrestled with sharing such personal information publicly," he wrote. "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."

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Singleton revealed that elevated levels of the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin were discovered from a random NFL drug test. An exam by a urologist confirmed the cancer diagnosis last week. Yet he elected to play Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders before undergoing surgery to remove the tumor Friday.

He told close friends on a group text that the drug test indicated he either was on steroids or had testicular cancer. He wrote that he doesn't take steroids, so he planned to play in the game then go straight into surgery.

Singleton, the Broncos' leading tackler and a team captain, had nine tackles in the Broncos' 10-7 victory over the Raiders. He addressed teammates Monday.

"This morning, I stood before our team as a lucky man," he posted on Instagram. "I shared with my teammates and coaches that I underwent successful surgery on Friday for testicular cancer after being diagnosed last week.

"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."

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Singleton, 31, is a tackling machine. He first gained national recognition when he recorded 21 total tackles and two tackles for loss in a win over the Chargers in 2022. His 19 solo tackles were second most in NFL history.

Last season, he suffered a torn ACL in the first quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but continued to play a remarkable 49 snaps, finishing with 10 tackles.

Singleton, who played at FCS school Montana State, has recorded at least 120 tackles four times and has a team-high 89 tackles in 10 games this season.

"[We'll] be there for him, continue the fight with him," Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad told reporters Monday. "I'm just glad everyone is here to support him.... Ultimate competitor, ultimate team player. He's going to overcome it, and we're all going to be here for him."

Singleton's wife, Sam, gave birth in February to their first child, a daughter named Tallyn Maye. Singleton recognizes that his health comes before football, telling reporters Monday that he will study the pathology report and be tested weekly. He said a CT scan showed that the cancer had not spread, but he is unsure how long he will be sidelined while recovering.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

(Content warning: This story contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide and needs support now, call or text 988 or chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.)

The Dallas Cowboys held on Monday their first team meeting since the Marshawn Kneeland tragedy, led by head coach Brian Schottenheimer and independent team psychologist Heather Tedwell.

This was the first group gathering for the entire team since Kneeland’s passing last week. Cowboys veteran defensive end Solomon Thomas praised Schottenheimer and the coaching staff for their support through this trying time. 

"Extremely proud of coach for how he conducted today, just bringing therapists in the building, bringing people who we needed in the building and just letting us be our true emotions," Thomas said. "Giving us a safe place to let everyone know what's going on inside."

"We needed a day just to be human and to cry and to let everyone know how we felt."

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Thomas has lost someone close to suicide. In 2018, Thomas’ sister Ella also died due to suicide. 

Thomas also held an event on Monday through his foundation, "The Defensive Line," a non-profit social services organization that helps individuals, families and seniors navigate through crisis situations. He was joined at the event by Cowboys teammates Osa Odighizuwa, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Perrion Winfrey, James Houston, Payton Turner, Jay Toia, Earnest Brown, Dayo Odeleye and Isaiah Land.

"I think the bye week, being away from each other has been hard," Thomas explained. "So I think coming into the building together meant a lot and then also having this and the guys, I even told them, 'Hey, I understand if you don't want to come,' and all of them wanted to come."

Everyone around the league felt this loss and former Cowboys teammate Micah Parsons even gave his own tribute to Kneeland before Green Bay's Week 10 Monday Night Football matchup against Philadelphia. 

Kneeland was in his second NFL season after being selected in the second round (56th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. In 18 career games, Kneeland posted 26 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 4 QB hits, 1 sack and 1 pass defended.