Nassib to IR leaves Johnson as Eli backup

Indestructible Eli Manning never has missed a game in his 13-year career, and for the past four seasons, his backup, Ryan Nassib, has only been used in mop-up work.

Now it’s likely he never will get to start a game for the Giants. On Tuesday, Nassib was placed on seasonending injured reserve and will undergo elbow surgery this week. That leaves the Giants with only one other quarterback on their roster: Much-traveled Josh Johnson.

Johnson, 30, was signed by the Giants on Sept. 5 as their No. 3 quarterback. He has been active for two games this season and was brought in as competition for Nassib, a 2013 fourth-round draft pick out of Syracuse.

Johnson spent his first three NFL seasons with the Buccaneers and has spent time with the Browns, Bengals, 49ers, Colts and Bills. He has five career starts and has completed 96-of-177 passes for 1,042 yards, with five touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Johnson has not played in a regular-season game since Dec. 22, 2013, for the Bengals.

The Giants traded up to get Nassib and at the time, general manager Jerry Reese said “We like that ‘it’ factor in him.’’ Reese, cognizant of Manning as the franchise quarterback, also said “If [Nassib] doesn’t ever play, that would be great.’’

Nassib played five games in mop-up roles and, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, is likely not going to return.