Baalke: Kaepernick 'Absolutely' Expected On 49ers Roster, Earn Salary Guarantee
INDIANAPOLIS (CBS SF) -- Speculation over whether San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaeperick would remain with the team may have ended, at least for the near term, after General Manager Trent Baalke said Wednesday he "absolutely" expected to Kaepernick to be on the roster for the 2016 season.
Kaepernick's $11.9 million salary for 2016 becomes fully guaranteed on April 1. Baalke told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis Wednesday that while he expects Kaepernick to be on the roster, he would not say whether Kaepernick or Blaine Gabbert would be the starter.
"Well, I think the good thing is we've got two guys that have gone into games and proven they can play," said Baalke. "And Colin's done some awful good things through his career, won some big games for the San Francisco 49ers and (we) expect him to come back."
After Kaepernick was benched in favor of Gabbert in the middle of last season, speculation mounted over whether the team would release Kaepernick before his salary guarantee kicked in.
The 28-year-old Kaepernick is recovering from surgeries to his shoulder, knee and thumb. "He's doing a good job with his rehab," said Baalke. "Talking to the medical staff, that seems to be going very well and just look forward to getting him back and getting him working with this coaching staff."
His contract through 2018 is structured in a way that allows the team to release him before April 1 of any year. If he remains on the roster after that date, a portion of his remaining salary becomes guaranteed.