Modified cellulosic fibers and fiber webs containing these fibers

Disclosed are modified cellulosic fibers having a dry zero span tensile index that is substantially less than the dry zero span tensile index of the corresponding unmodified cellulosic fibers. Fibers having reduced dry zero span tensile may provide fibrous structures having improved hand feel compared with fibers prepared from unmodified fibers. In particular, such modified fibers provide fibrous structures with improved flexibility, which is perceived as improved softness. The reduced dry zero span tensile is preferably achieved by reacting the fibers with one or more cellulase enzymes and one or more debonders. The invention also relates to a fibrous structure having a density of not more than about 0.4 g/cc, wherein the fibrous structure comprises modified cellulosic fibers having a dry zero span tensile index that is at least about 15% less than the dry zero span tensile index of the corresponding unmodified cellulosic fibers; and wherein the fibrous structure has a bending modulus per unit dry tensile that is at least about 30% less than the bending modulus per unit dry tensile of a fibrous structure prepared from corresponding unmodified fibers.