Matt Lauer loses encounter on bicycle with deer

NEW YORK—A flip off his bicycle took “Today” show co-host Matt Lauer off the air with a shoulder injury.

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 today.

“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 today.

—The Associated Press