Bike-riding Lauer injured avoiding deer

NEW YORK, March 23 (UPI) -- Bicycle rider Matt Lauer was forced to miss Monday's taping of the "Today" show after he was hurt trying to avoid a collision with a deer on Long Island, N.Y.

"He was riding his bike over the weekend and he had a run-in with a deer," "Today" co-host Meredith Vieira said.

The 51-year-old Lauer's shoulder was injured when he was thrown from his bike while trying not to hit the animal, but Vieira said his sense of humor appeared fine as he quipped in an e-mail that he thought "the deer was hired by the competition."

"I'd hire the deer -- but just to graze him," Vieira told Lester Holt, who covered for Lauer on Monday's program.

The "Today" show Web site did not say when Lauer will return to the show.