The Giants are releasing Will Johnson, the fullback told Dan Duggan of NJ.com. However, the 28-year-old said he could return to the organization on a minimum-salary deal. Johnson had one-year remaining on the two-year, $2.3MM deal he signed last offseason. As Duggan notes, the move will save the Giants about $1MM. 
Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) confirmed the news, adding that a return is possible but he will first explore the market. The move will save $610K against the cap.
The team inked tight end/fullback Rhett Ellison earlier this week, and it was apparent that the team would likely move on from Johnson, who would theoretically play a similar role in the G-Men offense. The fullback didn’t take the field in 2016 as he recovered from “slight nerve damage to the deltoid muscle.” Prior to that, Johnson played four seasons with the Steelers, where he only missed a single game.
Johnson has eight career carries for 14 yards and one touchdown. He’s hauled in another 31 receptions for 235 yards and two scores.
“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.”
Cleveland with the trade of the day
Giants with the most irrelevant signing of the day
Because they have no money. By franchising JPP, it ate up 70% of the cap space