Will Johnson

The Giants plan to release fullback/tight end Will Johnson. (James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

(James Kratch)

The writing was on the wall for Will Johnson when the Giants signed Rhett Ellison as soon as free agency opened on Thursday afternoon. Johnson told NJ Advance Media on Thursday night that the Giants plan to release him in the coming days.

"When they sign a guy to do your role, I don't know what their plans are, but that kind of put the writing on the wall there," Johnson said in a phone interview.

Johnson and Ellison are both fullback/tight end hybrids. The Giants invested $18 million -- and $8 million fully guaranteed -- in a four-year contract for Ellison. That made Johnson expendable.

Johnson had one year remaining on the two-year, $2.3 million free-agent contract he signed with the Giants last offseason. Johnson had a $1.275 million cap hit for the 2017 season. Releasing Johnson will leave the Giants with only $200,000 in dead cap.

Johnson said the Giants informed his agent last week during the NFL Scouting Combine that they are interested in bringing the 28-year-old back on a veteran's minimum deal, which would be $775,000 for a player with his experience.

"I'd like to come back, but I know they just signed a guy who basically does the same thing I do, so I don't know if they even want me back," Johnson said. "They're aware that I can sign elsewhere. I plan to shop around. There's not much of a market for me coming off (injured reserve) for a season. So, we'll see how things turn out."

Johnson was expected to fill a valuable role as a versatile blocker that could line up at tight end or fullback when the Giants signed him last April after four seasons with the Steelers. But Johnson suffered an injury in the first preseason game that was described as a "burner" that caused him to miss the entire season.

Johnson said he suffered "slight nerve damage to my deltoid muscle" on his right side. He said he felt like he could have played last season season, but doctors advised against it.

"They said the nerve had a mind of its own and it wouldn't have been completely 100 percent," Johnson said. "That injury was weird when you're dealing with a nerve. I was just at the hands of the doctors there."

Johnson said his agent has handled all of the conversations with the Giants about his release and possible return. But he said coach Ben McAdoo had checked in on his rehab before the Combine.

"I thought that conversation went well," Johnson said. "I informed him that I was ready to play. I just met with the doctors in New York after he called and I thought that went well. So I don't know where this is coming from."

Johnson said he is 100 percent healthy now.

"I've been told if I had to go out and play football today I could," Johnson said. "I don't know if by the books I'm cleared or not. But after talking with the team doctors, I think I would be cleared and good to go. Everything looks fine."

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.