Same problem as above
https://lists.openembedded.org/g/openembedded-core/topic/94795411#172656
Maybe try MACHINE_ESSENTIAL_EXTRA_RDEPENDS with OE core master.
For me it only includes specified linux-firmware package.
I had a similar issue awhile back, but I think a solution landed in OE core master.
Although from commit message seems unrelated. I believe this is what solved
the problem for me.
https://lists.openembedded.org/g/openembedded-core/message/173867