Craig Melvin and Al Roker Give Update on Sheinelle Jones amid Her 4-Month Absence from Today Show: ‘Praying for Her’

Sheinelle Jones will be back in her seat at the Today show as soon as she can.

During the NBC morning show’s 3rd Hour on Friday, April 11, Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer provided an update on their colleague, who has been absent from the show since Dec. 18.

“I just talked to her a couple days ago — she’s taking some time to be with her family and we talk to her all the time,” Melvin, 45, told Access Hollywood‘s Emily Orozco. “We love our girl. It’s been nice to see how much everyone else loves her, too.”

Dreyer, 43, confirmed that Jones, 46, will “be back” on the show eventually, as she said, “She misses being here — she wishes she was here with us, but she’s doing what she needs to do.”

Roker, 70, added, “We’re just praying for her.”

Jones, who is a co-host of Today‘s 3rd hour with Roker, Melvin and Dreyer, broke her silence on her absence from the show in an Instagram post in January as she revealed she’s been “taking time to deal with a family health matter.”

“I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I’ve been absent from the show,” she wrote.

“It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not on the support of my Today show family, but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me. I’ll see you soon.”

A source told PEOPLE that the family issue Jones is dealing with is “serious.”

“Sheinelle appreciates the support she’s received from fans and viewers in her absence,” the source said. “She’s especially grateful for her tight-knit Today show family and co-hosts, for all their love during a sensitive time.”