49ers GM won't rule out Kaepernick returning next season

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke isn't ready to close the book on Colin Kaepernick's time with the team.

"I wouldn't say that at all," Baalke said Sunday, according to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. "People are reading into that. But for me, where we stand right now, I wouldn't read into that."

Kaepernick was placed on season-ending IR over the weekend, leading to a flood of speculation the 49ers will cut ties with a passer who showed tremendous potential early in his career but whose development has stalled.

Baalke denied a report that at least three teams tried to trade for Kaepernick ahead of the NFL's trade deadline in October.

"No one contacted us relative to trading Colin," Baalke said.

Kaepernick's $11.9-million 2016 salary will become guaranteed if he remains on the 49ers' roster on April 1.