Matt Lauer Has Shoulder Surgery After Bike Spill

First Published: March 24, 2009 2:52 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Caption Matt LauerMatt Lauer is recovering from surgery to repair the shoulder he separated when he fell off his bike while avoiding a deer that jumped in his path.

“Today” show news anchor Ann Curry says the operation went “very well,” but Lauer is probably in “a lot of pain.”

Lauer’s fill-in, Lester Holt, said on Tuesday’s show that Lauer hopes to be back later this week.

Holt held up a headline in the New York Daily News that read: “Matt Goes Splat.”

Lauer was riding his bike on Long Island last weekend when a deer jumped in his path. The 51-year-old “Today” show host flew over the handlebars. NBC says Lauer was wearing a helmet.

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