Roger Ebert recovering from minor surgery

Chaz Ebert, the wife of esteemed film critic Roger Ebert, said her husband "had minor surgery" over the weekend in a letter posted on his website Monday.

Although she did not elaborate on the details of the surgery, Chaz said "the doctors remain optimistic about his recovery." The operation is expected to delay the beginning of Roger's physical therapy by a few days.

It is the third operation for the 64-year-old critic this year, who underwent surgery June 16 for a growth of salivary cancer and had emergency surgery July 1 after a blood vessel burst close to the previous operation.

Prior to this weekend's surgery, Roger was "making good progress and was ready to go to his next phase of treatment," Chaz said.

"But the doctors told us right from the start to expect this non-linear recovery. They said that there will bumps in the road along the way that seem like setbacks, and then he will reach a point where he will make a rapid recovery."

"Tonight Show" host Jay Leno filled in for Ebert this past weekend on the film review show "Ebert & Roeper." Director Kevin Smith is set to co-host for Ebert next weekend.