NBC’s Bob Costas Returns To Winter Olympics Prime-Time Coverage After Eye Infection

NBC’s Bob Costas will return to Winter Olympics prime-time coverage on Monday after being off air for almost a week with an eye infection.

NBC reportedly said on Sunday that “Today” host Matt Lauer will be substituting for Costas for one last time on NBC’s Sunday night telecast, and that Costas has been preparing for his return to prime-time winter games coverage on Monday.

NBC Olympics posted a picture of Bob Costas with his famous hipster glasses, and wrote: “Back in action on the set today, Bob Costas returns tomorrow night! #Sochi2014.”

According to reports, the long-time Olympics host began his duty for the Olympics telecast with one eye reddened from an infection that he hoped would clear out soon. Instead, the infection spread to his other eye, making his vision blurry and forcing him to take time off, which reportedly broke his streak of hosting 157 consecutive prime-time Olympics broadcasts.

During a broadcast, Costas joked about his red, watery left eye saying: “Bear with me for a moment as I spare my friends in the press office countless inquiries.”

He reportedly added: “I have no choice to go all Peabody and Sherman on you for the next couple of nights since I woke up this morning with my left eye swollen shut and just about as red as the old Soviet flag.”

Costas went on adding: “According to the NBC doctors here, it's some kind of minor infection which should resolve itself by the weekend. If only all my issues would resolve themselves that quickly, but that's another story.”

Former "Today" host Meredith Vieira anchored NBC's Friday night coverage, reportedly becoming the first woman to do so. Vieira, 60, who co-hosted the opening ceremony of the Sochi games with Lauer said she was honored to be chosen as Costas' replacement.

“It's an honor to fill in for him,” Vieira reportedly said. “You think about the Olympics, and you think the athletes and then Bob Costas.”