Chip Kelly and Trent Baalke are speaking the same language when it comes to quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

A day after Baalke said Kaepernick was “absolutely” in the 49ers’ 2016 plans, Kelly echoed his general manager.

The reason: He believes Kaepernick is a “really good” quarterback.

“He had the ball on the five-yard line taking the team into to win the Super Bowl (in 2012),” Kelly said. “You can just turn on the tape and know how talented he is. Our job is acquiring talent, not getting rid of talent.”

Of course, the 49ers will have to pay a hefty price for a talented quarterback who was demoted after eight starts in 2015. Kaepernick’s $11.9 million base salary will become guaranteed on April 1, three days before the 49ers begin their offseason program.

Kelly was asked to account for Kaepernick’s career spriral, from the brink of a Super Bowl to the bench. In response, he pointed to Kaepernick’s health issues in 2015. Kaepernick has undergone surgeries to his non-throwing shoulder, thumb and knee since late November.

“I think people forget about that,” Kelly said. “He had a shoulder, a thumb and a knee that are legitimate. He’s the only guy I know that went on IR and everyone forgot he was injured. There’s a reason he was on IR. There was something wrong with him, so I think getting a healthy Kap is an important thing. I’ve talked to him a couple times and getting updates on him rehabbing and he seems excited about where he’s headed and how that’s coming.”

Kelly has had several conversations with Kaepernick and believes he is eager to start a fifth season with the 49ers based on those talks.

“He wants to be here,” Kelly said. “He has never expressed to me that he didn’t want to be here. He expressed to me that he’s excited about getting healthy and getting going. And we’re excited about him getting healthy and getting going.”

Twitter: @Eric_Branch