Denver Broncos fans just got a massive dose of hope on two fronts: a positive cancer update on linebacker Alex Singleton and encouraging news on star cornerback Patrick Surtain II’s pectoral injury ahead of their next game against the Washington Commanders on November 30.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Broncos are “optimistic” both Singleton and Surtain can make it back into the lineup in Week 12, which falls after Denver’s bye and lines up with their Sunday night showdown at Washington. Singleton isn’t a lock to be ready for November 30, but Fowler noted the veteran is “trending that way” after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer on November 7. Surtain, meanwhile, has been targeting a post-bye return after missing time with a pectoral injury suffered in Week 8.
Denver enters the stretch run at 9-2 and atop the AFC West, and getting two defensive leaders back would be a huge emotional and on-field lift.
Broncos Get Encouraging Alex Singleton Cancer Update, Pat Surtain Timeline
GettyAlex Singleton could return to powering the Broncos’ defense as one of the leading tacklers in the unit in Week 13.
Singleton’s story has moved well beyond standard injury news.
The 31-year-old linebacker revealed in early November that a random NFL drug test flagged elevated levels of the hormone hCG, which led to further testing and a diagnosis of testicular cancer. He chose to play in Denver’s 10-7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, leading the team with nine tackles, and then had surgery the very next day to remove a cancerous tumor from one of his testicles.
Team statements and Singleton’s own social-media message framed the prognosis as positive and emphasized that the cancer was caught early. He said he expects to return to the field “in the coming weeks” once additional test results come back, and multiple reports have echoed that optimism about his recovery and short-term football future.
Fowler’s latest update adds more clarity on the football side. According to his report, the Broncos are hopeful Singleton can be back on the field after the bye, with the November 30 road game against the Commanders circled as a realistic target, even if it’s not guaranteed. That would mean a potential return just a few weeks after surgery, a remarkably quick turnaround that still hinges on how Singleton’s body responds and how doctors clear him.
Before stepping away, Singleton had been a tackle machine and emotional heartbeat of the defense, piling up 89 tackles in 10 games this season.
On the back end, Surtain has been sidelined since straining his pectoral muscle in Denver’s Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Reports have consistently pegged his recovery timeline at roughly 4-6 weeks, and the Broncos have notably chosen not to place him on injured reserve, a move that would have cost him at least four games.
Fowler’s update lines up with that approach. Denver has been targeting a return after its Week 12 bye, and the November 30 primetime matchup in Washington remains the goal. Surtain has already described his rehab as “right on schedule” in recent interviews, mentioning progress with movement, strength and pain-free work in the injured arm.
What It Means for the Broncos’ Defense
GettyPatrick Surtain II, The NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, may be back on the field for the Broncos in Week 13.
If both players are back on or around November 30, the Broncos could hit the season’s final month with their defensive core intact, and possibly even fresher after the bye.
Singleton has been central to Denver’s run defense and overall tackling structure. He handles a heavy snap load in the middle of the field, cleans up plays sideline to sideline and is a critical communicator for Sean Payton’s defense. Losing that kind of presence, even briefly, is no small thing for a contender.
A healthy Singleton back in the huddle would stabilize the second level and reduce pressure on depth options who’ve been forced into bigger roles while he recovers. It also delivers a clear emotional jolt: a teammate returning from a cancer scare to rejoin a playoff push is the kind of storyline that can galvanize a locker room.
Surtain’s potential return may be even more impactful schematically.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has routinely erased opposing No. 1 receivers, allowing Denver to tilt coverage and send extra resources at the run game or pass rush. Without him, the Broncos have had to lean more heavily on younger corners and safety help, which can limit how aggressive defensive coordinator Vance Joseph wants to be.
If Surtain is back and close to full strength by the Commanders game, Denver suddenly regains its shutdown corner and can again build game plans around his ability to take away one side of the field. That’s a big deal in a league where the Broncos could soon be facing top receivers on a weekly basis down the stretch.
The combination of Singleton in the middle and Surtain outside is a big part of why Denver has been able to grind out close wins and sit at 9-2 with a top-tier defense in 2025.
If Fowler’s report holds and both Broncos stars make it back on or around that Commanders game, Denver’s defense could be close to whole again just as the playoff race really starts to tighten.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Broncos Get Huge Alex Singleton Cancer, Patrick Surtain Injury News Before Week 13 appeared first on Heavy Sports.