Brother of Lions RB Kerryon Johnson Trapped in Romania Away From Pregnant Wife Due to COVID-19 Restrictions

Kerron Johnson, point guard for Cluj of the Romanian Liga Națională and brother of Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson, was nearing the end of his basketball season in Romania.

However, the coronavirus pandemic hit, and he has been unable to come home to his wife since, and is at risk of missing the birth of his child.

The four-year Belmont basketball player was undrafted in 2013 and left the states to play internationally in New Zealand. Since then, Johnson has moved throughout the globe, now ending up with Cluj of the Romanian Liga Națională.

In a story by Yahoo Sports, Johnson recounted the troubles he has faced in finding a trip home to his wife, now eight months pregnant. Johnson said, "[t]o me, that’s my worst fear, [t]o not be there for his first breath and for my wife. That’s my worry out of all this. I’ll miss that moment. You don’t get those moments back."

Johnson's wife, Gina, flew home in February, with Johnson set to leave in March following the suspension of play in Romania. Without anyone to care for their dog Kota, Johnson was forced to cancel his flight. It was impossible to predict the extent of the crisis, however.

Weeks of trouble have followed for Johnson and his wife, with Gina uttering the unfortunate truth.

"[i]t’s come to the point where I’m probably accepting the fact he may not be here for the birth,
I’m preparing for that," she said.

Johnson is not alone in his troubles either, as people throughout the world have struggled returning home amid the pandemic. Here's hoping all works out for Johnson's family and that a brother in the NFL can help him return home.