Where in the world was Matt Lauer on the Today show this morning?

At home, resting, after separating his shoulder following a face plant over his bike's handlebars this weekend. Why? A deer jumped into his path, obvs.

Lauer - who is scheduled to have surgery Monday - hopes to return to work later this week. Co-anchor Meredith Vieira, who had her own wreck of sorts last week, told viewers that Lauer "thinks the deer was hired by the competition."

"I hired the deer," Vieira cracked, "but I said, 'Just graze him.'"

Lester Holt filled in for Lauer.

When a couple of beasts like this collide, there can be only one winner.