While the Chargers’ season has gotten off to a nightmarish start, coach Jim Harbaugh will keep defending Justin Herbert.

During his Monday news conference, Harbaugh was left feeling insulted by a reporter’s line of questioning after he was asked about the team’s inability to build around Herbert, following their 0-4 start.

The exchange started when Harbaugh was asked: “I don’t know if it’s the group in front of him, his protection, what’s going on, but when you came here, your charge was to get him protected. Mike’s [McDaniel] charge was to make sure he didn’t have to be a superhero, but 2.5 years later, like you said, he still has to be a superhero for you guys to have a chance to win the game. Why is that?”

Harbaugh immediately paused and drew a blank face after he was asked the question and said, “Yeah, that just sounds like an insult than it does a question, but that’s the way you look at it. I’m saying it’s the kind of competitor that he is where I’ve never seen him flinch; I’ve never seen him rattled. He’s an amazing inspiration, and that’s what we do.”

Harbaugh said the entire team feeds off Herbert.

“You ask me what gives me optimism? What gives me hope with this football team? Because I see that throughout the entire team. And, yeah, we attack, we improve, can’t improve everything all at once, but we can improve on thing at a time, all the time. And that’s what this team is doing.”

After Harbaugh finished speaking, the reporter responded and told him his question wasn’t meant to be an insult.

“I’m just asking if it’s the third season now and he’s still among the most pressured and hit quarterbacks. I’m just asking you why that is?”

Despite having an offensive line that features Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt at tackle, Herbert is among the NFL’s most sacked quarterbacks (12), behind Baker Mayfield and Aaron Rodgers (13).

In Sunday’s 30-23 loss to the Seahawks, Herbert was sacked four times and faced a pressure rate of 55% in his dropbacks; it was the second-highest pressure rate he’s faced this season.

Herbert will likely continue to face significant pressure this season. He will likely be without Slater, who is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain.

With the team’s slow start and a difficult schedule that features the Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Texans and Ravens, Harbaugh is on the hot seat, and McDaniel might soon find a spot next to him.