ALAMEDA — The plan for Arden Key was simple enough.
The Raiders were going to bring the third-round draft pick out of LSU along slowly, capitalizing on on his length and athleticism as a pass rusher while at the same time keeping him fresh with a low snap count.
Welcome to Week 17, where Key has been an unexpected mainstay on defense as a comparatively slender 6-foot-6, 238-pound defensive end for the Raiders as they close out the season Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I got through it,” Key said Friday before the Raiders departed for the airport.