'Today Show' Matt Lauer in accident with deer

A run-in with a deer kept Matt Lauer off the air Monday.

"The Today Show" co-host flipped off his his bicycle this weekend when a deer jumped into his path.

He went over the bike's handlebars and was slightly hurt, NBC said.

His broadcast partner, Meredith Vieira, joked around 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."

Ouch. Wonder how the poor deer is doing ... .

We wish Matt -- and Bambi -- both a swift recovery.

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

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Photo: Matt Lauer dressed for Halloween as -- appropriately -- Humpty Dumpty, who took a fall in the nursery rhyme. Luckily for Matt, they were able to put  him back together after his run-in with a wild deer this weekend. Credit: FilmMagic
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