Broncos Get Huge Alex Singleton, Patrick Surtain Injury News Before Week 13
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 are optimistic that LB Alex Singleton and CB Patrick Surtain can make it back into the lineup Week 12 (post bye).
Singleton, who on Nov. 7 underwent surgery to have a cancerous tumor removed from one of his testicles, has received encouraging results post-surgery.
Broncos Get Encouraging Alex Singleton Cancer Update, Pat Surtain Timeline
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
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.
49ers' Shanahan reveals Brock Purdy's health status after first game back
Sunday marked Brock Purdy's first game back for the San Francisco 49ers since aggravating his turf toe injury in Week 4. The quarterback looked like his usual self, leading the team to a decisive 41-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Purdy completed 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns, earning a 133.5 passer rating. More importantly, he appeared to escape his first action since September without further injury.
Speaking to reporters during a Monday conference call, head coach Kyle Shanahan said he hadn't had a chance to talk to Purdy since after the game, as players were off. The 49ers have an extra day this week ahead of their Monday night matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
"Just talking to him last night, I know he felt pretty good and seemed like he checked out alright," Shanahan said.
Purdy admitted after the game that he wasn't focused on the injury while on the field, which helped him to play at a high level.
"I was pretty good going into the game," Purdy said. "I mean, this is the reason why I told Kyle, 'It's time. It's ready, because I feel great.' You know, at practice, running around, all the things. So, coming into it, I didn't want to think about it at all, and I didn't. I just went out and played quarterback how I've always played. That's how I went about it. It feels great now and onto the next one."
Purdy initially injured his toe in the season opener and returned in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a comeback that Shanahan previously admitted may have been too soon. After a setback in that game, the 49ers were cautious with their franchise quarterback.
Backup Mac Jones performed well, keeping the team in playoff contention, but a strong week of practice finally convinced Purdy and the team that he was ready to return.
"It's always a challenge when you haven't played," Shanahan said. "I know he got to play versus Jacksonville, but that game, he totally wasn't himself because of the injury. So, he really, truly hasn't been able to play like himself since Week 1. Then so much goes on in between."
For some players, there is a mental hurdle to returning after a lengthy time on the sidelines. However, that wasn't an issue for Purdy.
"You always want to get to the game," Shanahan continued. "But how cool he was throughout the week, I think he made it very comfortable for all the guys, and pretty easy on us with what to expect.
"Then he was the exact same way in the game as he was all week. So, I think that speaks a lot about him and kind of how even keel he is."
