When NFL teams cut their roster down from 90 to 53 players, it frees up a bunch of jersey numbers, and we often see a bunch of players change their numbers before the season begins. That’s exactly what has happened with the Detroit Lions in 2026, as six players will now have new numbers for the upcoming season.
Here’s a quick look at those players:
QB Luke Altmyer:
- Previous number: 2
- New number: 15
WR Lucky Jackson
- Previous number: 11
- New number: 9
DT Ben Stille
- Previous number: 72
- New number: 96
EDGE Derrick Moore
- Previous number: 9
- New number: 8
DB Keith Abney
- Previous number: 28
- New number: 6
DB Aamaris Brown
- Previous number: 42
- New number: 24
For Moore, his move from 9 to 8 now matches his college number
at Michigan. Meanwhile, Lucky Jackson takes Moore’s old number and snatches up one of the final single digit numbers. Keith Abney took another single digit number. Now, just 5 and 7 remain unclaimed amongst the single digit numbers. (Seven is retired by the team for Dutch Clark).
These number changes have yet to be reflected on the team’s official roster, but they were announce on the NFL’s daily transaction wire.
