Matt Lauer Returns To 'Today' Following Deer Run-In

Matt Lauer and Ann Curry on NBC's the 'Today' showThe Today ShowAccess Hollywood

NEW YORK , NY -- Following last week's collision with a deer while biking and a subsequent separated shoulder, Matt Lauer was welcomed back to NBC's the "Today" show Thursday morning with open arms by his co-hosts - along with plenty of barbs from his "deer" friends.

"I feel good and I doubled up on the meds so I'm ready for all your jokes this morning," said Matt, who underwent surgery and will be required to wear a sling for six weeks. "It's a fashion statement - it'll be all the rage next year."

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After enduring jokes from Jay Leno earlier in the week, co-host Ann Curry told Matt, "We've decided since we're your friends and colleagues, we refuse to make any fun of you, we've made a pact," just before she put on a pair of fake antlers.

And the jokes didn't stop with just Matt's coworkers.

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Guest David DeVore told Matt, "You need to get a deer whistle for your bike."

And Tony Kornheiser, co-host of ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption," who earlier called Matt's deer run-in a "made-up story," also showed up Thursday morning telling Matt, "For a guy that got in this terrible accident with a deer, you look great!"

"I didn't say a knife-wielding deer attacked me in the bushes," Matt fired back with a laugh.

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"The sling is great cover." Kornheiser said, before offering up his own theory on what happened to Matt.

" Matt Lauer , Al Roker, spring break, and something goes terribly wrong," he said. " Matt Lauer , Michael Phelps . Need I go further?"

"If I were going to cover a scandal, I would have said a mountain lion, a rabid mountain lion, or Katie Couric , jumped out in front of me!" Matt joked.

See Matt's "Today" show return, HERE & HERE!

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