Lauer, 51, was riding his bicycle on Long Island this weekend when a deer jumped into his path. He flipped over the bike's handlebars and was slightly hurt, NBC said.

"Today" show publicist Megan Kopf said Lauer, who was wearing a helmet, separated his shoulder and was scheduled to have surgery Monday.

"He's doing well, and we hope to have him back on `Today' later this week," Kopf said in an e-mail.

Lauer's broadcast partner, Meredith Vieira, joked on the air that Lauer thinks the deer was hired by the competition.

"Matt's banged up with a displaced shoulder, it popped out," she said. "So hopefully he'll be on the mend soon."

Lester Holt filled in as Vieira's co-host Monday.

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NBC is owned by General Electric Co.

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