ASHBURN, Va. — Strong safety Brandon Meriweather was unavailable because of injuries or suspensions for 18 of his first 34 games after signing with the Washington Redskins in 2012. The two-time Pro Bowl player was also beaten for several touchdown passes during the first five games of this season.

But on Monday night against the Cowboys in Dallas, the 30-year-old Meriweather showed why the Redskins kept him around as he became the first Washington player in at least 21 seasons with two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in the same game.

Meriweather’s big night began with a sack on quarterback Tony Romo to end the Cowboys’ first series. The safety forced running back Joseph Randle to fumble at the Dallas 21-yard line, with rookie linebacker Trent Murphy recovering to conclude their third series. Meriwweather then recovered running back DeMarco Murray’s fumble at the Washington 10 to save a sure score on the next possession.

As if that wasn’t enough, Meriweather blitzed Romo again with 1:25 left in regulation, stripping the ball. That would’ve meant a chip shot field goal attempt for Kai Forbath, but linebacker Ryan Kerrigan let the fumble elude his grasp in the bottom of the pile and the game went to overtime.

“That’s like the dream come true situation,” said Meriweather, who had just four career sacks and six forced fumbles before Monday. “It’s crunch time and coach sends you on the blitz and you get a good hit and a strip.”

Meriweather said (defensive coordinator Jim Haslett) told him “just to be myself and stop worrying about hits or fines and that’s what I did. … I was just having fun. I didn’t realize the game I was having until the end when everybody came up to me and told me. That was one of the games that I will remember. It was Monday night. That made it even better.”

Coach Jay Gruden had fun watching Meriweather wreak havoc.

“He had probably his best game since I’ve been here,” said Gruden, adding that he would like to see more consistent play from Meriweather. “He played his butt off. He was all over the place. He’s got good coverage skills and is a good tackler. He gets criticized a little bit like all of us, but I think he’s a darn good safety.”

— Kicker Kai Forbath was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking the winning 40-yard field goal in overtime at Dallas. Forbath, who had opened the scoring with a 44-yarder a week after kicking a career-high four field goals, including the last-second 22-yarder that beat Tennessee 19-17, has made all but one of his 14 attempts this season.

Forbath’s career 88.9 percentage (48-of-54) is the best of any kicker in Redskins history with at least 50 attempts. The third-year kicker is the 10th Washington special teams player to win the award but only record-breaking return man Brian Mitchell (three times) and punter Matt Turk (twice) have done so more than once. Forbath is also the first to win since former kicker Graham Gano in Week 16 of 2010.

“It’s a huge honor, but I did what I’m supposed to do, make the kicks when I’m called,” said Forbath, that going back to last season he has missed just once in his last 27 attempts.

“Distance doesn’t really matter. I kick it just as hard for a 40-yarder as a 22-yarder. Maybe there was more pressure for the 22-yarder because we would’ve lost. I feel good right now. We’re in a good rhythm.”

NOTES: S Ryan Clark (ankle) and OT Trent Williams (knee) were limited during Wednesday’s practice but are expected to start at Minnesota. … CB Tracy Porter (hamstring) practiced on Wednesday after missing all but one game this season. … OLB Ryan Kerrigan participated in full practice on Wednesday despite spraining a wrist against Dallas. … DE Jarvis Jenkins took full practice on Wednesday after injuring a foot at Dallas.