With the lockout over, the Broncos’ preseason schedule – including times – has been finalized, and the club’s first game is just over two weeks away.

With a new collective bargaining agreement in place, the Broncos will begin training camp practices this Thursday as they prepare for the preseason.

The Broncos kick off the exhibition slate on August 11, when they travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys at the year-old Cowboy Stadium for the first time. The Thursday game will be one of the first games of the NFL preseason and will begin at 6:30 MDT.

The Broncos will make their first home appearance of the year the following week, hosting the Buffalo Bills at 6:35 MDT on Saturday, August 20. Fans won’t have to wait long to see the team play again, as the Broncos are right back at INVESCO Field at Mile High the following week, playing host to the Seattle Seahawks at 6:35 MDT on Saturday, August 27.

Denver wraps up the preseason just five days later on Thursday, September 1 as the Broncos travel to Arizona to play their final game before the season opens up with a Monday night matchup against the Raiders on Sept 12 at INVESCO.

-Kenny Legan, DenverBroncos.com

UPDATED WITH DATES/TIMES APRIL 19 AT 4:42 P.M. MDT

April is arguably the most exciting month of a typical NFL offseason. Not only does the draft close out the month, but the next season’s schedule is released.

On Tuesday, with the draft a little more than two weeks away, the league offered up a precursor to the full schedule release, announcing the preseason slate.

The Broncos will take on three NFC teams in the preseason, along with an AFC team they will see again in the regular season.

The Buffalo Bills will open up the 2011 football season at INVESCO Field at Mile High when they travel to Denver in Week 2 of the preseason. The Broncos will return the favor and fly to Buffalo at some point during the regular season.

The other preseason home game comes in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Broncos hit the road in Weeks 1 and 4, playing in Dallas and Arizona, respectively. The Cardinals are the team’s second-most common preseason opponent, and the Cowboys are tied for third.