Thompson remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but clearing him to practice opens a three-week window for the Bengals to make a decision on whether to add him to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending Injured Reserve.
A fifth-year player from Clemson, Thompson tore his ACL in the 2015 regular-season finale against Baltimore.
He had eight tackles and a half sack last year while playing 16.9 percent of the defensive snaps. The 2012 third-round pick has appeared in 41 regular-season and playoff games with eight starts in his career, recording 91 tackles and three sacks.
The Bernard move means the team has an opening on the 53-man roster, which could be filled later this week by either cornerback William Jackson or running back/special teamer Cedric Peerman. Both players are on Injured Reserve, but the team can only bring back one of them.
The addition of Ott to the practice squad is an insurance policy after long snapper Clark Harris suffered a groin injury in Sunday’s loss to Buffalo.
Ott played at Harvard and has one game of NFL experience, snapping for the New York Giants in the 2015 season finale. He also has spent time in the New England and St. Louis Rams organizations.
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