Stokes and Atkinson are the subject of an investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and have been made unavailable for at least the second Test, which begins on 17 June, pending the results of the inquiry.
In a statement released on Monday, the ECB revealed the pair had broken the curfew. It later emerged that 35-year-old Stokes and Atkinson, 28, were present when a member of the England security staff was struck by Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa. The member of security was left bloodied and required medical attention.
Asked by BBC Sport if he felt Stokes could resign the captaincy and retire from playing, Key said: “He has not intimated that to me.”
On whether Stokes will play for England again, Key responded: “I don’t see why not.”
But on if Stokes will resume the captaincy, a position he has held since 2022, Key offered no guarantees.
“There are a lot of things to happen before then,” said Key. “We’ve got to run the investigation, find out what happened exactly. We’re in the midst of that at the moment. No decisions will be made until after that.”
Pressed on the subject, Key replied: “We just have to let this play out. No decisions have been made on our side.
“We’ve not given him an ultimatum, we’re just speaking to him all the time to make sure that he is alright. It’s obviously been a traumatic time for him over the last few days. When things are like that you don’t want to make any decisions. Time is our ally in this.”
Harry Brook is Stokes’ vice-captain in the Test team, yet the captaincy has been passed to Joe Root for the second Test beginning on Wednesday.
Brook, 27, was involved in a nightclub controversy of his own when he was punched by a bouncer in Wellington in October, the night before leading England in a one-day international against New Zealand.
And although Key said there were “many reasons” why Brook had not been chosen to skipper in the second Test, the former Kent batter admitted it would have been “pretty hard” to make Brook captain considering what happened in Wellington.
“That would be one of them,” said Key, when asked if Wellington was a reason for Brook not to be elevated to Test captain. “That’s not the main reason, that’s for sure.
“I just don’t feel it is the right time. That’s a decision we came to. The Test captaincy is a massive job, even in an interim basis, especially going into this next Test match and everything Harry would have to deal with.”
The scrutiny of England’s off-field activities during the winter was compounded by some dreadful performances on the field in a 4-1 Ashes series defeat.
The ECB conducted a review into the tour of Australia, and opted to keep Key, Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum in their posts.