NEW YORK (March 24, 2009)—“Today” show host Matt Lauer is recovering from surgery to repair the shoulder he separated when he fell off his bike to avoid a deer.

Ann Curry said on NBC's "Today" show Tuesday morning that the operation went "very well" but Lauer is probably in "a lot of pain."

Lauer's fill-in, Lester Holt, says Lauer hopes to be back later this week.

Holt then held up a headline in the New York Daily News that read "Matt Goes Splat."

Holt joked that the deer had "kind of a Matt-in-the-headlights look."

Lauer was riding his bike on Long Island when a deer jumped in his path.

He flew over the handlebars.

Lauer was wearing a helmet, NBC said.