On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions revealed jersey numbers for their free agent additions and incoming rookies.
The NFL drew some extra attention toward eventual jersey number reveals by allowing the number ‘0’ to be worn again. We found out wide receiver Marvin Jones would wear hat number in his second stint with the Detroit Lions, and Jameson Williams lobbied for Jeff Okudah’s vacated No. 1 before Okudah even had his stuff cleaned out of the Lions locker room.
On Tuesday, the Lions revealed jersey numbers for their 2023 free agent signings and the freshly drafted rookie class. These numbers are subject to change, especially for the rookies as the roster gets trimmed and numbers become available.
But here are initial jersey numbers for the Lions’ eight incoming draft picks.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs–26
LB Jack Campbell– 46
TE Sam LaPorta–87
S Brian Branch–32
QB Hendon Hooker–12
DT Brodric Martin– 96
OT Colby Sorsdal –75
WR Antoine Green– 80
And here are the jersey numbers for this year’s free agent signings.
WR Marvin Jones Jr–0
CB Cameron Sutton–1
DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson–2
CB Emmanuel Moseley–4
RB David Montgomery–5
DB Mac McCain–29
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin–42
LS: Jake McQuaide–50
G Graham Glasgow–60
Detroit Lions unveil jersey numbers for 2023 free agent signings and draft class
Some Lions players changed their jersey number.
DB Ifeatu Melifonwu–6
RB Craig Reynolds–13
DB Savion Smith–23
CB Chase Lucas–27
DB Jarren Williams–24
Sutton got No. 1 over Williams’ pleas to have it. But the second-year receiver would have had to buy out existing unsold stock of his No. 9 jerseys to change his number this year.
Woulda cost a lot for Jameson to buy all that unsold No. 9 inventory https://t.co/5cbPRxuIBZ
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) May 2, 2023
With all of these jersey number announcements for the Lions and the itch for fans to go out and buy, say a Gibbs jersey, I’lll pass along a friendly PSA from Justin Rogers of the Detroit News.
"As a friendly reminder for folks considering a jersey purchase, it would be wise to hold off until after training camp. Rookies will often change their numbers ahead of the regular season, as more options become available when the roster is reduced to 53 players."