Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh wrapped up Week 0 with a 15-minute press conference Thursday afternoon.

It capped off a busy week for the Bolts as they set their initial 53-man roster and then made a flurry of roster moves, including two trades and a waiver claim addition.

Harbaugh had high praise for Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz on Thursday — and even had a nickname for him with the help of his father, Jack.

"I got a new nickname for Joe. Actually my dad, Jack Harbaugh, thought it up: 'Chef Hortiz,'" Harbaugh said Thursday.

"Just the way he's adding the ingredients to this football team," Harbaugh added. "Football players, there's no higher compliment you can give them, you're a football player, he's a football player. That being added to those ingredients that he is mixing into this football team is just outstanding."

Here are three takeaways from Harbaugh's media session:

Heinicke joins the Bolts

The Chargers added a veteran backup quarterback to their roster Thursday with the addition of Taylor Heinicke.

The Bolts sent a 2025 seventh-round pick to Atlanta that converts into a 2025 sixth-round pick should specific conditions be met.

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh on Thursday revealed why the Bolts made the move to acquire the 31-year-old Heinicke.

"I like him. I like the production he's had," Harbaugh said. "The thing that jumps out is the fact … as many games as he played and started in, many times he's had to be the one that won a quarterback competition.

"I like the way he competes on the field. I like the way he plays, he plays his game as a quarterback," Harbaugh added. "I think that's really important. Really happy to have him on our team."

The Chargers now have three quarterbacks on their roster as Heinicke joins Justin Herbert and Easton Stick.

But Harbaugh was also a man of reflection Thursday as he spent several minutes talking about what he wants to see from the quarterback group going forward.

His biggest message?

Heinicke and Stick don't need to try and replicate what Herbert does on a daily basis.

"The backup quarterback here with the Chargers behind Justin, it just hit me now … I've been watching this for months now, but we have got to coach them separately from Justin," Harbaugh began.

"They can't try to replicate Justin and what he does in every way: the footwork that he takes, the reads that he makes, the throws that he attempts. He's un-replicable," Harbaugh continued.

"Anybody that's in that same quarterback room with him, you got to get out of your mind what he can and does do and concentrate on doing your game," Harbaugh added. "I think Easton, in particular, we're not doing him any favors by coaching him the same way as Justin Herbert. Or for Easton to try to do what Justin's doing."

Harbaugh said the plan going forward to perhaps have separate meetings to make sure practices and game plans are being tailored to each quarterback.

And while Herbert will obviously be the focal point — Harbaugh noted the extra prep will mean additional work for coaches — the hope is that it helps Heinicke and Stick continue to elevate their own games.

"I'm practically going to separate those meetings and just coach them where they've got to play their game," Harbaugh said. "Whether it's Easton or Taylor, we've got to have a game plan that fits them where they can go into the game and play winning football and play up to their capabilities."

"Bottom line … there's no other Justin Herbert, there's nobody that can do what he can do," Harbaugh added. "Nobody else is 6-foot-6, 240 pounds that could stand in the pocket with people draped on him and still throw a ball 40 yards down the field on a dime, as the young people call it. That's just him."

Molden adds versatility to secondary

Hortiz and the Bolts front office tapped into the trade market Wednesday for some depth in the secondary.

The team acquired defensive back Elijah Molden in a trade with the Titans in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick.

Molden, a 2021 third-round pick (No. 100 overall), played in 33 games and started 16 of them for Tennessee.

Despite coming into the league playing at the slot cornerback position, the 25-year-old moved to safety in 2023.

Harbaugh said Molden's versatility is one of the biggest parts of his addition, as it can open up a lot for Derwin James, Jr., to be the best version of himself for the defense.

"Been a starter in this league," Harbaugh said about Molden. "The ability to play in the deep middle of the field, deep half, but he can also be a nickel, he could also be a dime backer, which will allow us to be able to use Derwin's ability to play in the middle, play in the half, play close to the line of scrimmage and play as a dime backer. Derwin can do all that stuff.

Molden played 274 defensive snaps at free safety, 222 in the box and 198 in the slot last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

It led to a career-high 73 tackles in 15 games and the highest PFF tackling grade of his career so far with a 79.3. That mark ranked 10th in the NFL among safeties with at least 600 snaps.

Molden now joins adding another depth piece to a Bolts defense that is looking to maximize every avenue under Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter.

"Now we have better, more flexibility in our entire secondary and specifically Derwin's talents," Harbaugh said. "He's a competitor, football player. Super happy about it."

A Michigan reunion

Harbaugh knows a lot about Chargers running back Hassan Haskins.

"Harbaughs' love the Haskins'. He's like a son to me," Harbaugh said.

The new addition to the Bolts, who was claimed off waivers on Wednesday, played for Harbaugh at Michigan and now gets a chance to make his mark alongside his college coach in the pros.

Haskins played under Harbaugh from 2018 to 2021 and tallied 2,324 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. He also earned him a Second-Team All-American selection in his final season in Ann Arbor.

For Harbaugh, he knows what Haskins can bring to the team as he's the same player he can remember from the recruiting process.

"You block the play for a yard, he's liable to get three most often, most of the time," Harbaugh added. "Blocking for two, he'll get four. He's a really good pass protector and a game changer, tone setter on special teams as well.

"He's always been one of those guys that just ever since I met him," Harbaugh continued. "Jumped 6-foot-7 in the high jump when he was in high school. He had 11 sacks as an edge player and had a lot of runs. He was a wildcat quarterback in high school and he kind of mushed it up in there."

Haskins' main contribution in the NFL so far has been on special teams, where he played 234 snaps (third highest on the team). He also served as their kickoff returner and had 19 returns as a rookie.

He now joins a backfield with Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins and Kimani Vidal in Los Angeles.

"He's always been a real tough, outstanding competitor and great player," Harbaugh added.