Al Roker gives update on knee surgery amid 'Today' absence: 'It was a bit of a bear'

Al Roker is opening up about his recovery from a recent knee replacement surgery amid his absence from the "Today" show since last week.

Roker, 68, appeared on the morning show Monday to give his co-anchors an update on how his latest medical battle is going. "Look, it's Monday and I'm home from the hospital, it's just another day," he quipped, prompting laughter. Roker has been in and out of the hospital on a few different occasions for varying health issues in recent months and years. He announced last Monday that he would be absent from the show "for a little while to take care of the knee."

The surgery, he explained, was a little more complex than a typical knee replacement surgery.

"This one ... is more complicated because it was what they call a 'revision' that was the replacement of a replacement so that they take stuff out, put new stuff in. So it was a bit of a bear," he said. Roker previously had a knee replacement surgery in April 2022, per "Today."

But Roker is maintaining his ever-positive attitude, as his co-workers noted.

"Al never focuses on his pain," Hoda Kotb said. "He knows that once you start thinking about it, people start asking you about it and then you start feeling it all over again. This is like the Roker philosophy."

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What kind of surgery did Al Roker have?

The long-time weatherman underwent a total knee replacement surgery. He shared a video last week on Instagram of himself walking on his new knee to illustrate some of the recovery process.

"Up and walking this morning on the #newknee #stepbystep thanks to @drdavidmayman. Wearing a negative pressure pump to help facilitate wound healing," he wrote in the caption.

He followed it up with a jokey post about how he and his wife journalist Deborah Roberts "have GOT to stop meeting like this" with a montage of hospital photos taken over the last several years. "Yes. And we will!" she wrote in the comments.

Where has Al Roker been on the 'Today' show?

This isn't the first time Roker has been absent from the show while dealing with health issues.

In November, Roker was hospitalized for blood clots, which he was readmitted for in December. During that incident, he missed the show for about two months.

'Every day I feel a little bit better': Al Roker makes first TV appearance since hospitalization

"It's been a tough slog. I’m not going to deny this," he said during an update on the show at the time. "It's been the hardest one yet and you know I’ve had my share of surgeries."

"But it gives you a profound sense of gratitude for this outpouring of prayers and thanks," he said.

In 2020, Roker shared he had prostate cancer and underwent a successful surgery to have lymph nodes surrounding his prostate removed.

"I'm very fortunate," he said upon returning to "Today" after the procedure. "I just went to the doctor yesterday and they checked everything and everything is fine. ... Right now, there is no cancer evident, but I'm going to have to get tested (every) six months for the next five years."

Contributing: Elise Brisco, Sara M. Moniuszko

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where's Al Roker? 'Today' host shares health update after knee surgery