Many NFL fans we’re excited when the NFL kicked off week one of preseason with a bunch of games last week, if for no other reason than that football is finally back - even if that initial excitement may be tempered slightly by the fact that there are three more preseason games left to play before the regular season kicks off, which for some fans may feel like an interminably long time.

But what may feel long for football fans likely feels desperately short for players clawing and fighting for a spot on the 53-man rosters across the league: in less than three weeks, 20 days to be exact, the Cowboys and every other NFL team will cut their roster to 53 players as they start to prepare for the 2018 regular season, and it’s roster construction time again.

Most fans will be happy when the preseason is over, and the “real” football starts. After all, “it’s just preseason,” isn’t it?

While that may be technically true, don’t tell the Cowboys players that what they are doing in pursuit of some great reward on the 53-man roster doesn’t count.

20 days may sound like there is still ample time for the down-roster players to make a push for a spot on the 53-man roster, but that doesn’t leave too many opportunities to impress the coaches enough to secure a roster spot. Which means that every single practice, every single meeting, and every single snap counts from here on out.

Here’s an overview of the key dates left on the Cowboys’ preseason schedule.