HP EliteBook 850 G7

Having an issue trying to deploy a standalone image on HP EliteBook 850 G7.

The laptop boots to OS Deployer with an error "Network driver not available or not matched in bootable media..."

I've downloaded both the HP branded driver and the intel driver for the "Intel r WiFi 6 AX201 160MHZ" which is apparently the wireless card on this unit and still not registering. I have opened a ticket w/support but currently getting the runaround and asking me to repeat the basic steps that work for other devices in our fleet. Is there something goofy w/this model? I also struggle to understand when I'm doing a "standalone" deployment w/image burned onto the USB, why the network driver is even an issue at WinPE time.