4 potential surprise cuts for the Detroit Lions

3. FB Jason Cabinda

Cabinda hasn been on the roster bubble all offseason, and he has not done himself any favors by not looking good when taking the field as a fullback this preseason. With the Lions' rarely using a fullback, his value is wholly rooted in special teams, intangibles as a leader and being an example for this teammates with his great work in the Detroit community.

If the Lions want to keep a little-used blocker type who can play a lot of special teams, it could very well be a fourth tight end (Darrell Daniels?) over Cabinda.

Cabinda stands to be a tough cut for the Lions' staff. But his actual football skill pushes him to the brink of being cut, and he may sneakily (or not so sneakily) need a good showing against the Panthers to change that.

2. DE Romeo Okwara

Sheerly due to the value attached to those who can get after the quarterback, Okwara has inherent trade value if the Lions don't keep him. His level of preseason action (91 total defensive snaps over the first two games) could be as much about his needing to play coming of an Achilles' tear as putting him on display for a possible trade.

But it's also been clear this preseason that Okwara's previous burst off the edge has eroded, as easily expected coming off his major injury that required a second surgery. How much he plays against the Panthers will be worth noting, and it could be a sign of his status on the 53-man roster.

If the Lions are open to trading the elder Okwara and have let it be known but the offers just aren't coming, a bold move to outright cut him by next Tuesday isn't out of the question.