Rookie defensive end Robert Beal Jr. has been activated from the Injured Reserve list today while veteran safety and special teamer George Odum has been placed on I.R.

It’s interesting that the 49ers are activating an edge rusher rather than another safety. Of course, the 49ers always can elevate a safety from the practice squad on game days, which is probably what they’ll do. So activating Beal could suggest the 49ers actually intend to use him.

The 49ers pass rush has come alive the past few weeks, but they’ll need depth this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles elite offensive line, not to mention the rest of the season. And the 49ers haven’t gotten much production from their backup defensive ends, Clelin Ferrell and Randy Gregory. If those two continue to struggle and Beal performs well in practice, the 49ers could give him a few snaps on third downs to see what he can do.

Beal missed all of training camp and the preseason, the 49ers still might know exactly how to use him. But at Georgia, he was a rotational edge rusher, which probably would be how the 49ers use him. Not someone who would play every snap, but someone who would play here and there.